The dollar's recent strength has been explained by most market analysts as a result of the euro weakness rather than any fundamental support for the greenback. In fact, a closer look at the dollar's chart - particularly the dollar index - suggests the currency may be primed for a collapse.
The dramatic dollar index rise from 81 to 87 in recent weeks shows the chart's developed a dramatic and possibly dangerous parabolic trend. This trend has four important features.
The first is the way it captures an acceleration in behavior. The trend starts slowly and then gathers speed, rapidly moving up with increasing volatility.
The second feature is the shape of the curved parabolic trend rise. This is not a true parabolic curve because as the trend accelerates the curve changes shape until it becomes vertical. It’s the vertical section of the curve which is most useful because it provides a exact date when the trend will inevitably collapse.
This type of trend line curve was first identified in the 1930’s and it was mistakenly called a parabolic curve. We continue to use the name, even though it is not an accurate description. In the 1930’s this was a rare behavior. In the last decade this curve has become increasingly common as volatility has increased in modern markets. This type of trend should not be confused with the parabolic Stop and Reverse indicator.
The third feature of the parabolic trend line centers on the candles that build the pattern. Every day a new candle is added to the right of the previous days candle. Eventually, and inevitably, a candle will move to the right of the vertical section of the parabolic trend line and signal and end to the trend. The trend has a final ending date that can be calculated in advance using the vertical section of the trend line.
The fourth feature of the parabolic trend line is the high probability of a very rapid collapse in the trend. A good example is the parabolic trend in the oil market in 2008. When this trend collapsed the price dropped from $145 to $90 in 13 weeks.
The dollar index suggests the greenback will continue to stengthen until the end of June, with a target near 89-91, before it collapses to a downside target of 81.
Daryl Guppy is a trader and author of Trend Trading, The 36 Strategies of the Chinese for Financial Traders –. He is a regular guest on CNBC's Asia Squawk Box. He is a speaker at trading conferences in China, Asia, Australia and Europe.
If you would like Daryl to chart a specific stock, commodity or currency, please write to us at ChartingAsia@cnbc.com. We welcome all questions, comments and requests.
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