The Euro (EUR) is showing a moderately positive tone on Monday, with the Dollar languishing near multi-month lows. The recent dovish pivot by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and investor confidence that the US central bank will start cutting rates in the first quarter of 2024, is fuelling the positive market mood.
This favorable scenario has buoyed the Euro to session highs at 1.0940, from Monday´s lows below 1.0900, as the market awaits the release of November´s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) data.
The recent hawkish comments by Fed officials, like Chicago Fed President, Austan Goldsbee, who denied any commitment to cut rates soon, have failed to provide a significant impulse to the US Dollar. US bond yields remain near multi-month highs with traders pricing in rate cuts in March, which keep US Dollar bulls in check.
In the calendar today, the final Eurozone CPI reading is expected to confirm that Eurozone inflation continued cooling in November, which endorses the view that the European Central Bank (ECB) has reached its terminal rate.
Euro reversal from the 1.1010 resistance area, has been contained above the 1.0880 support area and the pair is picking up on Tuesday´s European session, fuelled by a favorable risk environment.
The broader trend remains positive, although the 1.1010 resistance area might be a tough nut to crack. Above here, the next targets would be the August high at 1.1060, and the July 24 and 27 high at 1.1150.
To the downside, a bearish reaction below the December 14 low at 1.0880 and the 4-hour 100 Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.0870 would increase bearish pressure towards 1.0825 on the way to 1.0730 lows.
The Euro is the currency for the 20 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.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) measures changes in the prices of a representative basket of goods and services in the European Monetary Union. The HICP, released by Eurostat on a monthly basis, is harmonized because the same methodology is used across all member states and their contribution is weighted. The YoY reading compares prices in the reference month to a year earlier. Generally, a high reading is seen as bullish for the Euro (EUR), while a low reading is seen as bearish.
Read more.Next release: 12/19/2023 10:00:00 GMT
Frequency: Monthly
Source: Eurostat
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