EUR/USD is trading in the high 1.27 range, its lowest level since September 2012. The euro sagged after the release of Eurozone CPI, which dipped 0.3% in September. German news was mixed, as Retail Sales jumped 2.5%, but Unemployment Change was up sharply. The Eurozone unemployment rate was unchanged at 11.5%. In the US, today’s key event is CB Consumer Confidence, with the markets expecting another strong reading above the 90-point level.
The euro has lost over 100 points on Tuesday, as the common currency shows no signs of halting its sharp descent. It’s been a disastrous September for the euro, which has shed over 500 points against the US dollar. The euro reacted sharply to the Eurozone CPI reading of 0.3%, which matched the forecast but was weaker than the 0.4% in August. The inflation rate has now been under 1% for twelve straight months, way off the ECB’s target of just below 2%. On Monday, German Preliminary CPI posted a flat reading of 0.0% for the second straight month. The ECB is feeling the pressure to act, but as Mario Draghi knows all too well, there isn’t any magic formula to creating inflation and improving economic growth.
Over in the US, Pending Home Sales posted a decline of 1.0%, compared to last month’s gain of 3.3%. The important housing indicator has shown strong movement, resulting in readings that have been well off market estimates. US housing indicators continue to paint a mixed picture, as New Home Sales jumped last month, while Existing Home Sales softened and was well short of expectations.
EUR/USD 1.2579 H: 1.2702 L: 1.2571
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