Euro drifting as investors eye Fed Minutes

Kenny Fisher MarketPulse

The euro is calm on Wednesday after an impressive 3-day rally which saw EUR/USD jump 1.4%. Will the upswing continue? In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.1220 at the time of writing, down 0.08% on the day.

ECB likely to lower rates in September despite stubborn inflation

The European Central Bank took the plunge and lowered interest rates in June, for the first time in four since 2019. This brought down the key rate to 3.75%, down from a record 4%. At the meeting, the ECB also revised upwards its inflation forecast for 2024 from 2.3% to 2.5%.

The ECB remains concerned about sticky inflation which is above the 2% target. The fact that inflation is above target won’t stop the central bank from further cuts since rate moves tend to take time until they filter through the economy. The ECB wants to continue cutting rates in order to boost a flagging eurozone economy but sticky inflation and strong wage growth remain are making it more difficult for the ECB to lower rates. Still, the markets have priced in a rate cut at the September 12 meeting at around 90%.

Next up: Jackson Hole Symposium

The annual meeting at Jackson Hole could be dramatic. Federal Reserve Chair Powell will address the gathering on Friday, ahead of a widely expected Fed rate cut next month. It is practically a given that the Fed will loosen policy, but by how much?

The most likely scenario is a quarter-point cut, but earlier this month, the financial markets were routed and expectations for a large half-point cut soared. With inflation under control, the Fed is keeping a close eye on the US labor market, and Powell’s take on the economic outlook could move the markets.

EUR/USD technical

EUR/USD is testing support at 1.1112. Below, there is support at 1.1090.
1.1151 and 1.1173 are the next resistance lines.

Author

Kenny Fisher

MarketPulse

A highly experienced financial market analyst with a focus on fundamental analysis, Kenneth Fisher’s daily commentary covers a broad range of markets including forex, equities and commodities.

GBP/USD hits multi-week tops around 1.3560

GBP/USD gathers fresh steam and advances to new three-month peaks near the 1.3560 zone on Friday. Cable’s sharp move higher comes after three daily drops in a row and follows the increasing selling pressure hurting the Greenback.

EUR/USD pops to fresh two-month highs, targets 1.1600

EUR/USD advances markedly, revisiting the upper 1.1500s for the first time since mid-June. The pair’s sharp uptick comes on the back of a strong retracement in the US Dollar amid BoJ intervention chatter and despite steady uncertainty in the Middle East.

Gold picks up pace, approaches $4,400

Gold rebounds toward the $4,400 mark per troy ounce on Friday, reversing the previous day’s pullback. The precious metal’s recovery comes as fresh and intense weakness keep weighing on the US Dollar, while traders keep assessing easing expectations of an imminent Fed interest rate hike and the situation from the Middle East.

Pi Network Price Forecast: PI extends consolidation as bulls eye $0.10

Pi Network (PI) price holds steady on Friday, maintaining a consolidating tone for three consecutive days. Mild retail strength in the PI token remains stable, with Open Interest above $9 million, while social buzz eases. PI token’s technical outlook is mixed, as bearish momentum wanes to neutral, with bulls eyeing the $0.1000 psychological level.

Weekly focus: Some relief in US inflation concerns

Actual inflation data for July came out as expected with a 0.1% m/m increase in headline CPI and 0.2% excluding food and energy. Annual headline inflation remains too high at 3.4% and means that wage earners are experiencing stagnating spending power at best, and core inflation is a bit higher than the inflation target of two percent would suggest.

Why is Crude Oil priced for a reopening the ships haven't made?

Fourteen vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Before the war, the count ran near 120 a day. In the sessions since the waterway was publicly declared open, Brent has drifted back to $87 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to $81, both a little lower again on Wednesday, with daily momentum on each unwound from the top of its range in late July to the low twenties now.