EUR/USD Forecast: Euro looks to extend consolidation ahead of Fed
- EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.0900 to start the week.
- The US economic calendar will feature Retail Sales data for February.
- The Federal Reserve will announce monetary policy decisions on Wednesday.
EUR/USD snapped a two-day losing streak on Friday and closed the previous week marginally higher. The pair stays in a consolidation phase below 1.0900 to start the new week as investors remain on the sidelines ahead of this week's key macroeconomic events.
Euro PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.09% | -0.13% | -0.10% | -0.40% | -0.13% | |
| EUR | -0.01% | -0.11% | -0.34% | -0.13% | -0.25% | -0.42% | -0.16% | |
| GBP | -0.02% | 0.11% | 0.10% | -0.24% | -0.15% | -0.32% | -0.13% | |
| JPY | -0.09% | 0.34% | -0.10% | -0.20% | -0.39% | -0.42% | -0.34% | |
| CAD | 0.13% | 0.13% | 0.24% | 0.20% | -0.18% | -0.27% | -0.56% | |
| AUD | 0.10% | 0.25% | 0.15% | 0.39% | 0.18% | -0.15% | 0.10% | |
| NZD | 0.40% | 0.42% | 0.32% | 0.42% | 0.27% | 0.15% | 0.26% | |
| CHF | 0.13% | 0.16% | 0.13% | 0.34% | 0.56% | -0.10% | -0.26% |
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 US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
The positive shift seen in risk sentiment made it difficult for the US Dollar (USD) to gather strength on Friday and helped EUR/USD hold its ground heading into the weekend.
Early Monday, US stock index futures trade deep in negative territory, making it difficult for EUR/USD to gain traction.
In the second half of the day, the US economic calendar will feature Retail Sales data for February. On a monthly basis, Retail Sales are forecast to rise by 0.7% following the 0.9% contraction recorded in January. A disappointing reading could hurt the USD with the immediate reaction but market participants could refrain from taking large positions, while waiting for the Federal Reserve to announce monetary policy decisions on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Germany's CDU/CSU, SPD, and Green Party will vote on the proposed fiscal spending package after reaching a tentative agreement last week.
EUR/USD Technical Analysis
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on the 4-hour chart moves sideways slightly above 50 and EUR/USD fluctuates at around the 20-period Simple Moving Average, reflecting the pair's indecisiveness.
On the downside, 1.0850-1.0860 (50-period SMA, 200-week SMA) aligns as immediate support before 1.0800 (static level, round level) and 1.0730 (200-day SMA). Looking north, resistances could be spotted at 1.0900 (round level, static level), 1.0940 (static level) and 1.1000 (static level, round level).
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.
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Author
Eren Sengezer
FXStreet
As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.
