- EUR/USD came under heavy pressure and retested the 1.0630 region.
- The US Dollar added to recent gains and reached fresh tops.
- Markets’ attention remains on the release of US CPI and Fedspeak.
EUR/USD’s downside pressure gathered extra steam at the beginning of the week, adding to losses recorded on Friday and hitting fresh lows near 1.0630, a region last visited in late April.
The steep leg lower in the pair came in response to a sharp kickstart of the week by the US Dollar (USD), which sent the US Dollar Index (DXY) to new multi-week peaks well north of the 105.00 barrier, all supported at the same time by the strong persistence of the “Trump trade” and rising expectations regarding potential policies under the Trump administration.
The daily decline in spot came in tandem with the second consecutive daily loss in German 10-year yields, which retreated to monthly lows near the 2.30% zone.
On the policy front, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut the Fed Funds Target Range by 25 basis points to 4.75%-5.00% last week, as widely expected. The bank’s statement noted that while inflation is edging closer to the 2% target, the labour market has shown some signs of easing despite low unemployment.
The Fed highlighted that risks to the job market and inflation are “roughly balanced,” echoing its stance from the September report. A subtle shift in language also described inflation as having “made progress” rather than the earlier phrasing of “made further progress.”
During his press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell remained non-committal about December’s policy decision, citing economic uncertainty as a factor limiting the Fed’s ability to provide clear guidance. Powell noted that recent positive economic data has helped alleviate some downside risks, and he firmly stated he wouldn’t step down if asked by President-elect Trump.
In Europe, the ECB recently cut its deposit rate to 3.25% on October 17 but signalled a cautious approach to any further rate changes, preferring to wait for upcoming economic data.
As both the Fed and the ECB face key policy decisions, the outlook for EUR/USD will hinge on broader economic developments.
However, the incoming Trump presidency is likely to introduce tariffs on European and Chinese imports and adopt a more relaxed fiscal stance in the US, which could spur inflation and cause the Fed to pause its rate-cutting cycle.
That said, other than macroeconomics favouring the Greenback, a U-turn in the Fed’s monetary policy stance, shifting to a more cautious approach, or even rethinking the idea of potential hikes, should be another source of strength for the US Dollar.
On the positioning front, speculative net short positions in the Euro have eased to a three-week low, standing at around 21.6K contracts in the week to November 5, as per the latest CFTC Positioning Report. At the same time, hedge funds and commercial traders have scaled back their net long positions slightly, now just above 600 contracts, amid a modest decline in open interest.
EUR/USD daily chart
EUR/USD short-term technical outlook
Extra losses might push the EUR/USD down to its November low of 1.0.628 (November 11), ahead of the 2024 bottom of 1.0601 (April 16).
On the upside, the 200-day SMA at 1.0867 aligns as the immediate resistance, seconded by the November high of 1.0936 (November 6) and the interim 55-day SMA of 1.0977.
Meanwhile, further drop is likely as long as the EUR/USD remains below the 200-day SMA.
The four-hour chart shows a pick-up in the bearish trend. Against that, initial support is at 1.0628 ahead of 1.0606. On the other hand, immediate up-barrier is at 1.0824 followed by 1.0936. The relative strength index (RSI) plummeted to around 28.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays near 1.0400 in thin holiday trading
EUR/USD trades with mild losses near 1.0400 on Tuesday. The expectation that the US Federal Reserve will deliver fewer rate cuts in 2025 provides some support for the US Dollar. Trading volumes are likely to remain low heading into the Christmas break.
GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds steady near 1.2550
GBP/USD consolidates in a range at around 1.2550 on Tuesday after closing in negative territory on Monday. The US Dollar preserves its strength and makes it difficult for the pair to gain traction as trading conditions thin out on Christmas Eve.
Gold holds above $2,600, bulls non-committed on hawkish Fed outlook
Gold trades in a narrow channel above $2,600 on Tuesday, albeit lacking strong follow-through buying. Geopolitical tensions and trade war fears lend support to the safe-haven XAU/USD, while the Fed’s hawkish shift acts as a tailwind for the USD and caps the precious metal.
IRS says crypto staking should be taxed in response to lawsuit
In a filing on Monday, the US International Revenue Service stated that the rewards gotten from staking cryptocurrencies should be taxed, responding to a lawsuit from couple Joshua and Jessica Jarrett.
2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?
As the door closes in 2024, and while the year feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye, a lot has happened. If I had to summarise it all in four words, it would be: ‘a year of surprises’.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.