One of the worlds most profitable Hedge Fund Managers Paul Tudor Jones called it in Tony Robbins Money Master Book " my #1 Trading indicator " and some of my colleagues in institutions and banks have referred to it as a key barometer for where substantial money flow often occurs. I am referring to the 200-Day Moving Average on a Daily chart and as the charts will demonstrate below the 200 MA (moving average) not only has the potential to reverse a currency market but can also be a general guide to where the overall trend is. So how can you use the 200 MA to potentially improve your strike rate in the currency markets?
It is generally viewed by most professional traders that if price is above the 200 MA they will not attempt to short a currency and will generally only look to use their trading system to buy into the market they are trading. The opposite when price is below the 200 MA, they will generally look to only short the currency pair they are trading. Trading systems that appear to have an edge on a higher time frame such as a 4-hour or daily chart can potentially be enhanced by applying this rule of thumb.
Following are 4 charts showing the 200 MA on a Daily Chart. If you’d like to apply a 200 MA to your MT4 platform simply go to the Menu at the top of the page, click on Insert, then click on indicators and then trend. You will see Moving Average listed there for you to click on and load.
Make sure you input 200 into the Period box under Parameters. Andrew Barnett | Director / Senior Currency Analyst Andrew Barnett is a regular Sky News Money Channel Guest and one Australia’s most awarded and respected financial experts, and is regularly contacted by the Australian Media for the latest on what is happening with the Australian Dollar. Connect with Andrew: Email
By
GO Markets
The information provided is of general nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situations or needs. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice. All opinions, conclusions, forecasts or recommendations are reasonably held at the time of compilation but are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Go Markets Pty Ltd, ABN 85 081 864 039, AFSL 254963 is a CFD issuer, and trading carries significant risks and is not suitable for everyone. You do not own or have any interest in the rights to the underlying assets. You should consider the appropriateness by reviewing our TMD, FSG, PDS and other CFD legal documents to ensure you understand the risks before you invest in CFDs.
We are less than three weeks away from the ASX earning season and we are less than two weeks away from the earnings season in the US. So, we need to start prepping for trades and opportunities now. First and foremost, do not forget that confession season is well and truly upon us here in Australia.
Downgrades clearly have been coming from the discretionary sector; we've even seen companies hit the wall with the likes of Booktopia going into administration. There are some clear thematics that are growing in the Australian market. Energy, while the worst performing sector for the financial year 2024, may actually show you that earnings were slightly above expectation on higher than expected oil prices.
Materials led in the main by BHP, Rio and FMG Have once again benefited from higher than expected iron ore prices. It also benefited from a lower than expected AUD/USD where average FX prices were expected to be between $0.68 and $0.73 but instead have averaged between $0.63 and $0.67. What we're looking for is operational costs, overall margins and forward looking guidance, something that these firms have lacked in the last three financial updates.
Watch very closely for the excitement that will come from things like copper at the expense of the issues that are facing nickel lithium and other transition metals that have had really tough periods in FY24. Moving to the banks this is a sector people argue is fully valued. It's not hard to argue when through the financial year CBA made record all time highs several times and is still within a whisker of its record all time high.
Higher interest rates will indeed improve net interest margins. However, the unknown question and what we need to see at its August full year earnings is the impact higher rates are having on bad and doubtful debts, the possible increase in provisioning and more importantly the impact its having on new loans and refinancing. There is an argument to be made that banking is possibly fully priced and no matter what result is delivered won't necessarily create a leg further higher.
Finally, you can't go past consumer staples and discretionary. Retail sales numbers over the last 18 months have actually shown discretionary spending At or above 2022 levels although month on month figures have been erratic. The question that will come for discretionary spending is margins and how much sales revenue translates to the bottom line in earnings and profit.
Staples on the other hand have seen consistent movement on the revenue line but the question will be the margin and after the very targeted senate inquiry into supermarkets any sign profits are above trend may actually be met with concern as geopolitics raises its head. 33 times in 2024 the US 500 and the Tech 100 have made record highs – can it continue? Look into the US and the ending season that it is about to undertake. We have to look at several core thematics that are likely to be raised.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) The question you’ve got to ask is: is the time frame long or short? We raised this Mag 7 stocks etc Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, apple have clear potential. They are evolving their business models and see the integration of AI as the future of their individual businesses.
That will likely come up in their numbers but it will come with operational and initial upfront costs as the integration of AI begins. This is all long term may not fully capture short term opportunities which is still presenting very much in the semiconductor providers. NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices are taking full advantage and monetizing the compute cycle.
This clearly won't be forever because it will go from semiconductors to infrastructure to software and therefore the flows will move back towards the bigger end of town but overall the AI thematic still flows towards the semiconductors for now and that's likely to be shown in the earnings season that's coming. Data Centres That brings us to data centres because the potential for ensuring AI requires a heck of a lot of storage and a heck of a lot of processing. There are estimates the data centres will need to grow by 420% in Europe and 250% in the US by 2035 based on the rate of growth in AI right now.
Therefore, we need to watch providers like Dell Technologies and Intel which are big providers of data centres currently. We think the market hasn’t fully appreciated DC needs in the AI revolution. Cybersecurity The final key theme in the AI data centre technology space that we also think needs to be watched is cyber security.
It's been something along the lines of a 70% increase in ransomware attacks over the past 24 months. The regulatory requirements and the budgets required to deal with these increased threats is only just beginning. That brings players like Fortinet to the fore IT programmes and it's pensively to develop programs for enterprise makes it an interesting one going forward.
GLP-1 ‘Weight Loss’ Medicines Another theme of being a really strong driver of the S&P 500 is the rise of GLP-1 medicines. The weight loss craze that has come off the back of this Amazon has been incredible. Initially obviously developed for diabetes but having an additional effect of weight loss has created a product out of nowhere.
Eli Lilly and Co is a key player in this space with its GLP one class medicines already approved by the FDA. It's been launched in the US and its oral intake has posted adoption. It is not the only one in this space but shows very clearly the impact weight loss medicines are having on earnings.
The caveat we have though is side effects and long term impacts are still being found and could be said as a capping issue on price. Whatever way you look at it the US dating season however will be incredibly exciting and it is the reason The US markets continue to see huge capital inflows as they are much more exciting in this current environment than traditional value markets such as Australia.
!
Important: Confirmed or estimated times, dates and figures should be checked against official investor relations calendars. Reporting schedules can change without notice.
$JPM| 2026 第 1 季財報發布期
摩根大通 (JPMorgan Chase & Co.)
NYSE | 金融服務 | 2026年4月14日
已確認
全球發布倒數 (美股開盤前)
00:00:00:00
每股盈餘 (EPS) 預期
US$5.42
營收預期
US$47.88bn
澳洲 / 亞洲4月14日 | 晚上 8:45
美國 / 拉美4月14日 | 早上 6:45
Market Intelligence: $JPM
Analysis: JPM price drivers and scenarios
NII guidance
~US$103bn
Full year | US$95bn ex:markets
ROTCE target
17%
Return on tangible common equity
Analyst range
US$5.02:5.70
Low to high estimate spread
AVG
LOW US$5.02AVG US$5.39HIGH US$5.70
The analyst spread of US$0.68 signals genuine disagreement about how the rate environment is flowing through to margins. A result that beats consensus but lands below the high:end estimate may produce a muted reaction. A print above US$5.70 changes the conversation.
Key swing factors for the result
Net interest income (NII)
The cleanest macro lever. Reflects the gap between lending rates and deposit costs.
Guidance: US$103bn full year
ROTCE: Scale check
Determines if JPM is converting scale into efficiency. 17% is the benchmark.
Target: 17% ROTCE
Trading and investment banking
Strong Q1 growth was expected in fees and markets revenue. These lines can offset softness in lending and a stronger than expected performance here can shift the narrative away from rate sensitivity entirely.
Watch: IB fees vs prior quarter
Expense discipline
A bank can beat the EPS estimate and still sell off if expense growth is running too hot. Pairing the EPS result with the expense trajectory gives a more complete read on whether the beat is durable.
Watch: Expense outlook commentary
Trade Execution: $JPM
Earnings reaction framework: Q1 2026
Bull case
EPS above US$5.70 | NII on track | ROTCE at or above 17%
Result clears the top of the analyst range. NII guidance holds or is revised up. IB fees and markets revenue show strong Q1 growth. Expense commentary is constructive.
Momentum and repositioning likely
Base case
EPS US$5.39:5.70 | NII in line | ROTCE near target
Result beats consensus but stays within the expected range. NII tracks guidance. Conference call tone matters more than the number. First move may fade if guidance is unchanged.
Muted or mixed initial reaction
Bear case
EPS below US$5.39 | NII misses | Expense growth surprises
Result falls at or below the consensus midpoint. NII guidance is cut or qualified. Expense growth comes in above the market expectation. IB or markets revenue disappoints.
Repricing of earnings multiple likely
Reaction trigger to watch: The market response in the first 30 minutes after the print may indicate which scenario traders are leaning towards. A move above the prior session high on volume may support the bull case. A fade back into the range after an initial pop may point to the base case. A break below the prior session low on volume suggests the bear case is gaining traction.
Sentiment Analysis · JPMorgan Chase
Interactive scenario analysis: $JPM
Select earnings outcome
Growth momentum
The AI offset: quality beat with NII and ROTCE confirmation
Stronger:than:expected demand for AI:related industrial lending effectively offsets the cooling mortgage market. Management maintains guidance as NII remains resilient in higher:for:longer conditions. IB fees and markets revenue add upside. ROTCE at or above 17% confirms the bank is converting scale into profit efficiently.
The consensus sits near the bottom of the analyst range. This positioning signals a potential beat-and-raise setup if backlog growth and F-35 delivery timelines confirm execution. A print near the high:end above US$7.10 could drive a multi:session continuation move.
Key swing factors for the result
Backlog visibility
Primary proof of demand. Book-to-bill above 1.2x validates full:year guidance and production ramp.
Backlog: US$194bn record
Free cash flow yield
Defence stocks rerate on cash conversion. Market wants confirmation of the US$6.5bn floor.
Guide: US$6.5bn to 6.8bn
Missile segment growth
PrSM and THAAD deliveries are in peak demand. Strong space margins can offset softness in aeronautics.
Watch: Fire control margins
Margin pressure
Pension charges and production inflation remain risks. A beat can be faded if operating margins contract.
Result clears the upper half of the analyst range. Management reaffirms or raises the full:year FCF outlook. Strong Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) margins offset any aeronautics supply chain lag.
Momentum and repositioning likely
Base case
EPS US$6.30:6.70 | Backlog steady at ~US$194bn
Result aligns with the US$6.38 consensus. F:35 delivery pace remains on track but offers no major upside surprise. Market waits for specific segment guidance on the conference call.
Result falls to the bottom of the analyst spread. Management cites further software delays or program losses. FCF trajectory is narrowed toward the lower end of previous expectations.
Repricing of earnings multiple likely
Reaction trigger to watch: The market response in the first 30 minutes after the print may indicate which scenario traders are leaning towards. A move above the prior session high on volume may support the bull case. A fade back into the range after an initial pop may point to the base case. A break below the prior session low on volume suggests the bear case is gaining traction.
Sentiment Analysis · Lockheed Martin
Interactive scenario analysis: $LMT
Select earnings outcome
Backlog confirmed
The defence premium: backlog and FCF confirmation drives continuation
EPS clears the top of the analyst range. Backlog holds at or above US$194bn and book:to:bill stays above 1.2, confirming that orders are replenishing faster than revenue is being recognised. FCF guidance holds within the US$6.5bn range.
The consensus sits near the bottom of the analyst range. This gives traders a quick visual for whether the print is merely in:line or actually strong enough to override the guidance discount that hit the stock after its last update. A result above US$7.20 changes the conversation entirely.
Key swing factors for the result
Book-to-bill ratio
Currently at 1.10, suggesting orders are still running ahead of revenue recognition. This is a critical signal for multi:year growth visibility in defense.
Watch: 1.10 target
Guidance reset risk
Management’s guidance came in below Street expectations previously. Traders will be highly sensitive to any further softening of the 2026 outlook.
Watch: Guidance commentary
Program concentration
B:21 Raider and Sentinel carry outsized execution sensitivity. Updates on production ramp and funding are the clearest sentiment drivers for the stock.
Watch: B:21 / Sentinel updates
Capacity investment
Lean into capex supports the industrial base long term but may pressure near:term margins. Check if investment is suppressing current earnings power.
Result crushes the US$6.03 consensus. Management confirms B:21 Raider production is ahead of schedule with improving margins. Sentinel program restructuring costs remain below baseline expectations. International awards drive the book:to:bill ratio above 1.15.
Momentum and sector rotation likely
Base case
EPS US$6.00:6.20 | Backlog stable at ~US$95.7bn
Result aligns with consensus. FCF targets for 2026 are reaffirmed but not expanded. Market focus shifts to "organic sales growth" metrics and segment operating margins. Initial reaction likely depends on the specific pacing of B:21 milestone payments.
Result falls at the low end of the analyst spread. Management flags higher infrastructure costs for Sentinel or delays in restricted Space segment awards. Margin pressure in Aeronautics persists, and the 2026 revenue guide is narrowed toward the US$43.5bn floor.
Sharp repricing of execution risk
Reaction trigger to watch: The market response in the first 30 minutes after the print may indicate which scenario traders are leaning towards. A move above the prior session high on volume may support the bull case. A fade back into the range after an initial pop may point to the base case. A break below the prior session low on volume suggests the bear case is gaining traction.
Sentiment Analysis · Northrop Grumman
Interactive scenario analysis: $NOC
Select earnings outcome
Stealth momentum
The stealth premium: B-21 acceleration drives rerating
EPS clears US$6.15. Management confirms production capacity agreement for the B:21 Raider. Sentinel ICBM restructuring hits Milestone B on schedule. Record backlog visibility and higher FCF guidance toward US$3.5bn trigger broad repositioning.
All earnings dates marked as confirmed or estimated should be verified against current company investor relations calendars before you act on them. Reporting schedules can change without notice due to corporate decisions, regulatory requirements or exchange timetable adjustments.
The mechanics: How the timing works across time zones
The US earnings season does not arrive as a smooth drip. It arrives in waves. For non-US traders, the primary challenge is the overnight gap: major results land while you are away from your desk and can move index CFDs before your local market opens. Before market open (BMO) and after market close (AMC) matter just as much as the numbers themselves. The timing changes how quickly markets react, when liquidity is available and whether the first move has already happened before your session begins.
For this cycle, the market is no longer rewarding AI mentions alone. It is looking for return on investment (ROI) proof. The four thematic snapshots below help explain where attention is likely to sit as results come through. Each theme has its own section with company cards that can be updated each quarter.
T1
Theme 1 — Institutional anchors
Defence against volatility
These companies are often watched as relative defensives during energy shocks and inflation spikes, although they remain exposed to normal share-price risk. When macro uncertainty rises, money has historically rotated toward businesses with contracted revenue, government-linked demand or pricing power that is not dependent on the consumer cycle — but past rotation patterns do not guarantee future performance.
JPM
JPMorgan Chase
Tuesday, 14 AprilConfirmed
Watch For
Net interest margin (NIM) under higher for longer rates, and whether AI spending remains cost neutral.
LMT
Lockheed Martin
Wednesday, 22 AprilEstimated
Watch For
F-35 delivery schedules and the company's ability to absorb tariff related costs on supply chain inputs.
NOC
Northrop Grumman
Monday, 27 AprilConfirmed
Watch For
B-21 Raider production progress and the conversion of its reported US$95.7 billion backlog into recognised revenue.
T2
Theme 2 — Tangible capital
EVs and energy
As parts of tech slow, investors have been rotating toward tangible, capital-intensive businesses. The energy transition and the infrastructure required to support AI data centre power demand have put utilities and energy companies in an unusual position: they are now growth stocks with defensive characteristics — though all remain subject to ordinary equity and sector risk.
TSLA
Tesla
Thursday, 23 AprilConfirmed
Watch For
The strategic shift from EV margins toward robotaxi and energy storage as the new growth narrative.
NEE
NextEra Energy
Friday, 24 AprilEstimated
Watch For
Data centre power demand and progress on its reported 30 GW contracted backlog as utilities face new infrastructure pressure.
XOM
Exxon Mobil
Wednesday, 29 AprilEstimated
Watch For
Permian and Guyana volume growth, and cash flow resilience during the Hormuz supply disruption.
T3
Theme 3 — The hardware invoice phase
AI infrastructure
This is the engine room of the S&P 500 and the part of the market most tied to whether AI capital expenditure is generating measurable returns. The question the market is now asking is not whether these companies are spending on AI. It is whether the spending is translating into capacity utilisation and revenue that justifies the multiple.
MSFT / GOOGL
Microsoft and Alphabet
Monday, 27 AprilEstimated
Watch For
Azure and Cloud capacity constraints against heavy AI capital expenditure. The gap between spending and utilisation is the market's primary concern.
NVDA
NVIDIA
Wednesday, 27 MayEstimated
Watch For
Blackwell GPU demand and gross margin sustainability as the product cycle matures and competition intensifies.
T4
Theme 4 — K-shaped recovery
Consumer platforms and devices
This theme tests the K-shaped consumer recovery: higher-income cohorts remain more resilient while lower-income cohorts face continued pressure from elevated borrowing costs and energy prices. Ad revenue and device upgrade cycles are the clearest indicators of where on the K-curve the consumer sits.
META / AMZN
Meta and Amazon
28 to 29 AprilEstimated
Watch For
AI-driven ad click improvements against Reality Labs spending and retail logistics costs as the profitability test for non-core investment.
AAPL
Apple
Thursday, 30 AprilEstimated
Watch For
iPhone upgrade cycle momentum and the Apple Intelligence rollout in China as the first real-world test of AI-driven hardware demand.
Analysis checklist: how to read each result
Use this structure for every company on your watchlist. A headline beat is common. The bigger market move often comes from how the market translates the details sitting behind the number.
1
Projected consensus
This is the bar for earnings per share (EPS) and revenue. Small beats may already be priced in. The market often sets a whisper number above the published consensus, so a technically positive result can still disappoint.
2
The call focus
Identify the single variable analysts are most focused on this cycle: capital expenditure versus margins, inventory turnover, customer growth rate, or contract backlog conversion.
3
The translation
A beat, meet or miss each carries a different market dynamic.
Beat
Matters most when forward guidance is credible. Without it, the initial move may reverse.
Meet
Often shifts focus to the tone of the call, particularly language around capacity or outlook.
Miss
Can be treated as the start of a trend and trigger a sharp repricing of valuation multiples.
The recency bias problem
The emotional trap many traders fall into is recency bias. Because the Magnificent 7 have led markets for so long, it can feel as though they are still the only trade that matters. That assumption deserves to be tested.
Three time horizons, three distinct signals. Update these each cycle with the most relevant near-term catalyst, the sector rotation to watch, and the longer-horizon dispersion theme.
Next Two Weeks
Consumer health barometer
Watch the 31 March Nike report as a lead indicator for consumer discretionary health. Footwear and apparel demand signals tend to front-run broader retail sentiment.
Next 30 Days
Bank lending and industrial demand
Focus shifts to the major banks. If loan demand tied to industrial and infrastructure projects remains firm, the earnings cycle may have support beyond the tech sector.
Next 60 Days
Wider dispersion between winners and losers
Watch for dispersion to widen. The companies converting heavy capital expenditure into measurable revenue outcomes may separate clearly from those that cannot.
Client & Education Portal
Follow the US Reporting Season
Stay ahead of major beats, misses, and market surprises. Log in to your terminal, open a new account, or explore our dedicated earnings academy.
Safe-haven demand:
The Iran conflict directed flows into US assets across equities, Treasuries, and the dollar itself.
Yield advantage:
The federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% provides a meaningful return floor relative to most peers, helping to sustain capital inflows.
Energy insulation:
The US position as an oil exporter creates a structural terms-of-trade benefit when oil prices rise sharply.
Rate cut repricing:
Market expectations for 2026 Fed cuts have been scaled back significantly, removing a key source of dollar headwinds.
What markets are watching next
The DXY's ability to hold above 100 is the near-term reference point. The 10 April CPI print is the most direct test. A reading above expectations may add further support, while a soft print could give traders reason to take some dollar positions off the table.
The main risks to the upside case are a sudden diplomatic resolution in the Middle East, which could reduce safe-haven demand quickly, or a labour market print on 3 April that is weak enough to revive recession concerns and push rate cut expectations higher again.
Energy import exposure:
Rising Brent crude hits New Zealand's trade balance directly and adds upside pressure to domestic inflation.
Yield gap:
The 2.25% Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) policy rate sits below the Fed and the RBA, sustaining negative carry against both the USD and AUD.
Risk-off positioning:
As a commodity and risk currency, the NZD tends to underperform when global sentiment deteriorates.
Trade uncertainty:
Ongoing tariff related uncertainty continues to weigh on export sector confidence.
Risks and constraints
Any unexpected hawkish commentary from the RBNZ or a sharp decline in oil prices could provide some relief. A broader improvement in global risk appetite would also tend to benefit the NZD, given its sensitivity to sentiment shifts.
But the structural yield disadvantage is not going away quickly, and that may continue to limit the pair's recovery potential.
Tokyo CPI, 30 March (AEDT):
March inflation data. A strong read may build the case for BOJ action at the April meeting.
BOJ meeting, 27 and 28 April (AEST):
Markets are treating this as a live event. The quarterly outlook report may include updated inflation forecasts that shift rate hike timing expectations.
Intervention watch:
Japan's Ministry of Finance has been explicit about the 160 level. Actual intervention, or a credible threat of it, could trigger a sharp and fast reversal.
What could shift the outlook
A hawkish BOJ, actual FX intervention, or a softer US CPI print that reduces dollar support could all push USD/JPY lower from current levels. On the other side, a dovish hold from the BOJ combined with continued dollar strength could see the pair test 160 and potentially beyond, which would likely intensify the intervention conversation in Tokyo.
For traders watching AUD/JPY and other yen crosses, the BOJ meeting on 27 and 28 April carries similar weight. A hawkish shift tends to compress yen crosses broadly, not just USD/JPY.
A strong read may strengthen the case for a more hawkish BOJ at the April meeting.
3
Apr
US labour market (NFP)
USD pairs, AUD/USD, NZD/USD · 10:30 pm AEDT
A weak result could revive recession concerns and alter Fed pricing.
10
Apr
US CPI - March
USD/JPY, EUR/USD, gold · 10:30 pm AEST
The most direct test of whether inflation is easing fast enough to reopen the rate cut conversation.
27-28
Apr
BOJ meeting and quarterly outlook report
JPY crosses, AUD/JPY · AEST
The key policy event for yen crosses. Updated inflation forecasts may shift rate hike timing expectations.
关键关卡和信号
这些是交易者和决策者最密切关注的参考点。每一个都可能是定位转变或官方应对措施的潜在触发因素。
◆
DXY 100.00
A psychologically and technically significant support level. Holding above it may sustain the dollar's current run across major pairs. A break below it would likely signal a broader sentiment shift.
◆
USD/JPY 160.00
Japan's Ministry of Finance has consistently referenced this level as a threshold requiring attention. Actual intervention, or a credible threat of it, has historically been capable of producing sharp and fast reversals in the pair.
◆
Brent crude US$120
A move to this level would likely intensify risk off behaviour across FX markets, putting further pressure on energy importing currencies including the NZD, EUR, and JPY.
◆
AUD/USD 0.7000
This level has historically attracted buying interest and may act as a near term directional reference for positioning in the pair.
Bottom line
The FX moves heading into April were shaped by a combination of geopolitical shock, yield divergence, and a repricing of central bank expectations that few had positioned for at the start of the quarter. The dollar's dual role as a high yielding and safe haven currency has put it in an unusually strong position, but that position is not unconditional.
One soft CPI print, one diplomatic breakthrough, or one labour market miss could change the tone quickly. Currency moves may remain highly data dependent and sensitive to overnight news flow from the Middle East, where developments can gap markets before the next session opens.