- EUR/USD recovers mildly while the US Dollar’s rally stalls as the US CPI comes under the spotlight.
- The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by 25 bps in November.
- A majority of ECB policymakers are open to more rate cuts.
EUR/USD rises to near the psychological resistance of 1.1000 in Tuesday’s European session. The major currency pair recovers mildly as the US Dollar (USD) faces a slight correction, with investors shifting focus to the United States (US) Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September, which will be published on Thursday.
The inflation data is expected to show that the annual core CPI – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – has grown at a steady pace of 3.2% year-over-year (YoY). The headline inflation is estimated to have decelerated to 2.3% YoY from 2.5% in August.
The impact of the inflation data is expected to be lower on the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate outlook as policymakers are more focused on reviving economic growth and consumer spending. The comments from Fed Governor Adriana Kugler in Tuesday’s European session suggested that the policymaker sees more rate cuts as appropriate if price pressures continue to decline as expected.
Meanwhile, financial market participants expect the Fed to cut interest rates again in November, but the rate-cut size is expected to be 25 basis points (bps), according to the CME FedWatch tool. Lately, market speculation for a Fed 50 bps rate cut waned after the US job report for September, which showed that labor demand remained robust and wage growth was stronger than expected.
Daily digest market movers: EUR/USD rises slightly despite ECB Nagel is open for more rate cuts
- EUR/USD edges higher amid a mild correction in the US Dollar. The outlook of the Euro (EUR) remains fragile as a majority of European Central Bank (ECB) officials continue to emphasize the need to reduce interest rates further due to a sharp deceleration in Eurozone price pressures and poor economic growth.
- In an interview with Table Media, ECB policymaker and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said, “I am certainly open to considering whether we could possibly make another interest rate cut.” Nagel has also agreed with the revision of the Eurozone’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast for 2024 to a 0.2% contraction against a prior projection of 0.3% growth.
- However, the German Industrial Production for August has come in better than expected. On a monthly basis, Industrial Production grew at a robust pace of 2.9%, compared to estimates of 0.8% after contracting by 2.4% in July.
- Meanwhile, ECB policymaker and Austrian central bank Governor Robert Holzmann advised to proceed with caution on further interest rate cuts as inflation has yet not been defeated, in his comments while interviewing with Sueddeutsche Zeitung published on Monday. In September, the Eurozone flash Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) decelerated to 1.8% year-on-year.
Technical Analysis: EUR/USD remains below 1.1000
EUR/USD gathers strength to gain ground near the immediate support of 1.0950. The major currency pair is broadly under pressure as it has delivered a breakdown of a Double Top chart pattern formation on a daily timeframe. The above-mentioned chart pattern was triggered after the shared currency pair broke below the September 11 low of 1.1000.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) slides below 40.00. A bearish momentum would trigger if the RSI sustains below the same.
Looking down, the pair is expected to find support near the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) around 1.0900. On the upside, the 20-day EMA at 1.1070 and the September high around 1.1200 will be major resistance zones.
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
Source: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/eur-usd-edges-higher-though-ecb-dovish-bets-keep-downside-intact-202410080931