- EUR/USD extends losses as the US Dollar rose after Fed’s Powell pushed back expectations of March rate cuts.
- The Euro faced a challenge of heightened expectations of an ECB interest rate cut in June after lower-than-expected German inflation data.
- Eurozone mixed inflation data could provide support to underpinning the Euro.
- The US Dollar could face a challenge if the upcoming US labor data slow down as expected.
The EUR/USD pair continues to lose ground for the second successive day, stretching lower to near 1.0790 during the European session on Thursday. The US Dollar (USD) gains upward support against the Euro (EUR), fuelled by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s dismissal of a rate cut in the upcoming March meeting. Powell’s comments have also supported US Treasury yields. However, the Euro attempts to recover intraday losses after the release of mixed Eurozone inflation data.
The Euro faced difficulties following softer preliminary Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from Germany released on Wednesday. This has heightened market expectations of an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) in June. However, earlier in the week, ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos indicated that the ECB would contemplate interest rate cuts only when there is confidence that inflation aligns with the central bank’s 2% goal.
ECB member Mario Centeno has indicated that if inflation maintains its current trajectory in the upcoming months, the next likely move by the ECB would be to cut rates. Should this occur, it could mark the initiation of a cycle aimed at the normalization of interest rates.
The Eurozone preliminary Core Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (YoY) increased by 3.3%, higher than the expected 3.2% growth in January but lower than the 3.4% prior. The annual Consumer Price Index came in at 2.8% as expected against the previous reading of 2.9%. The month-over-month report showed a decline of 0.4%, swinging from the 0.2% rise in December.
German Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January showed a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, lower than the expected 3.3% from December’s reading of 3.7%. Meanwhile, the monthly consumer inflation met expectations, rising to 0.2% from the previous reading of 0.1%. The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices YoY increased 3.1%, lower than the previous figure of 3.8%.
The US Dollar, gauged by the US Dollar Index (DXY), continues to strengthen amid market expectations regarding the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) upcoming decisions, projecting into the May meeting. CME’s FedWatch Tool indicates a probability of over 60% that the Fed will maintain its interest rates within the range of 5.25%-5.50% during the March meeting. Meanwhile, the probability of a quarter-point rate cut in May exceeds 60%.
The US ADP Employment Change reported a 107K jobs increase for January, falling short of the expected 145K, and marked a decrease from the previous reading of 158K in December. Attention on Thursday is expected to focus on significant economic indicators such as US Initial Jobless Claims, Nonfarm Productivity, and ISM Manufacturing PMI.
- Germany’s annual Retail Sales for December fell by 1.7%, lower than the 2.4% decrease seen in November.
- The German Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (MoM) declined by 0.2%, more than the market consensus of a 0.1% decline.
- German Statistics Office showed that Unemployment Change fell by 2K against the expected growth of 11K in January. The seasonally adjusted Unemployment Rate fell to 5.8%, while markets expected it to be unchanged at 5.9%.
- The US Employment Cost Index (ECI), released by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, fell to 0.9% in the fourth quarter from the previous 1.1% rise.
- Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Index eased to 46 in January. The market expectation was a rise to 48 from 47.2 prior.
EUR/USD dropped to near 1.0780 on Thursday, close to support at the major level of 1.0750. A break below this level could put downward pressure on the EUR/USD pair to navigate the support zone near the psychological level at 1.0700.
On the upside, the EUR/USD pair could find immediate resistance at the psychological level of 1.0800. A breakthrough above this level could inspire the bulls of the pair to test the 21-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 1.0826, followed by the major barrier at 1.0850 and the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at 1.0867.
Euro price today
The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the weakest against the Japanese Yen.
| USD | EUR | GBP | CAD | AUD | JPY | NZD | CHF | |
| USD | -0.07% | 0.17% | 0.08% | 0.65% | -0.11% | 0.35% | 0.01% | |
| EUR | 0.05% | 0.21% | 0.12% | 0.72% | -0.01% | 0.40% | 0.07% | |
| GBP | -0.29% | -0.36% | -0.10% | 0.50% | -0.22% | 0.06% | -0.16% | |
| CAD | -0.08% | -0.12% | 0.12% | 0.61% | -0.13% | 0.30% | -0.03% | |
| AUD | -0.65% | -0.74% | -0.50% | -0.60% | -0.73% | -0.31% | -0.63% | |
| JPY | 0.09% | 0.00% | 0.24% | 0.11% | 0.71% | 0.41% | 0.08% | |
| NZD | -0.38% | -0.40% | -0.18% | -0.28% | 0.29% | -0.46% | -0.36% | |
| CHF | -0.01% | -0.07% | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.63% | -0.10% | 0.33% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/JPY (quote).
Euro FAQs
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.