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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved.

Trade of the week: short AUD/USD

The Australian dollar has formed a marginal new multi-month high against the US dollar, but negative divergence on the relative strength index suggests a potential short-term correction may be ahead.

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Written by

Axel Rudolph FSTA

Axel Rudolph FSTA

Senior Technical Analyst

Article publication date:

(AI video summary)

Current trade overview: short position

In the current market environment, a trading opportunity has been identified with the AUD/USD currency pair. The strategy involves taking a short position based on technical analysis showing negative divergence between price action and momentum indicators, despite the prevailing uptrend.

Trade setup

  • Entry point: short AUD/USD at current levels around 0.6590
  • Stop loss: set above 0.6596, positioned above the high seen on Thursday of last week. This stop loss placement is crucial to limit potential losses if the market moves against the position
  • Target: aim for a downside target around the 0.6500 area, capitalising on the expected technical correction

Risk-reward ratio

This trade offers a favourable risk-reward ratio with a tight stop loss just above recent highs. However, it is important to note that this is a high-risk trade as it involves trading against the prevailing trend, and sometimes the best decision is to refrain from trading.

Market context

The Australian dollar has made a new multi-month high against the US dollar, but only marginally so. This suggests the currency pair is struggling to extend gains at current levels. More significantly, while the price chart shows a higher high, the daily relative strength index (RSI) has formed a lower high, creating negative divergence.

This negative divergence on the oscillator can serve as an early warning sign for at least a short-term correction. The current price action shows a series of higher highs and higher lows, indicating the uptrend remains intact, which makes this a counter-trend trade requiring careful risk management.

  • Cautionary note: while this trade presents a structured opportunity, market conditions can change rapidly. Traders are advised to consider their risk tolerance and market outlook before engaging in this trade. This analysis is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as personal trading advice.

Important to know

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.