EUR/USD ticks lower following Warsh's nomination for the Fed

The Euro (EUR) has pulled back following news of the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman, but remains trading in a tight range, with bulls called below 1.1950 and support at the 1.1900 area containing downside attempts for now. Better-than-expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures in Germany and the Eurozone, and the uptick in German inflation, have failed to provide any significant support to the pair.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed market rumours, choosing former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the replacement for Jerome Powell as the head of the Fed. The news, advanced by market media earlier on Friday, had improved invesotrs sentiment, on the belief that Warsh will guarantee the central bank's independence rather than act on Trump's command.

Beyond that, news that US Senate Democrats and Republicans have reached an agreement on a package of spending bills has boosted hopes that another government shutdown can be averted, providing additional support for the Greenback.

US economic data released on Thursday was mixed. Factory Orders bounced up beyond forecasts, but Initial Jobless Claims were also higher than expected, and the trade deficit widened. On Friday, the focus will be on the US Producer Price Index (PPI) data for December.

Daily Digest market Movers: Warsh's name soothes markets

• The US Dollar is trimming some of the losses seen over the last two weeks after the name of Kevin Warsh has emerged as the next Fed Chair, soothing investors who were concerned about the central bank's autonomy. Beyond that, hopes that a deal to avoid an immediate US shutdown is still possible, and some profit-taking ahead of the weekend have contributed to giving some oxygen to the battered US Dollar.
• In Europe, the recent Euro rally is starting to raise concerns about the competitiveness of European products in foreign markets and the growing downside risks for inflation, which has prompted the first calls for interest rate cuts since last summer. If more European Central Bank (ECB) officials follow this path, we might see a deeper Euro correction.
• Eurozone data released earlier on Friday revealed that the region's economy grew at a steady 0.3% pace in Q4, and 1.4% year-on-year, against the market consensus that had anticipated a slowdown to 0.2% and 1.2% respectively.
• German preliminary Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) revealed that price pressures contracted in January, at a 0.1% pace, following a 0.2% reading in December, while Yearly inflation increased by 2.1% from 2.0% in the previous year, against market expectations of a steady 2% reading.
• Previously, German preliminary Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures revealed that growth accelerated to 0.3% in Q4, from a flat reading in the previous quarter, and beating expectations of a 0.2% improvement. Year-on-year, the German economy grew 0.4% from 0.3% in Q3.
• Later on the day, the preliminary German HICP is expected to show a 0.2% contraction in January, following a 0.2% growth in the previous month, although the yearly inflation is seen as steady at 2%.
• In the US, Producer Price Index (PPI) figures for December are forecast to have moderated to a 2.7% yearly growth, from 3% in the previous month, while the core PPI is seen easing to 2.9% year-on-year, from 3% in the previous month.

Technical Analysis: EUR/USD corrects lower, with support at 1.1900 under pressure

The EUR/USD rally has lost steam as the last two days' lower highs suggest that sellers are taking control, although support at 1.1895 is limiting losses for now. Technical indicators show increasing bearish momentum. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram has slipped below zero on the 4-hour chart, and the red bars are expanding, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is attempting to break the key 50 level on the same time frame.

A confirmation below the mentioned 1.1895 area (January 28, 29 lows) increases negative pressure towards the January 27 low, at 1.1850, and the January 23 low near 1.1730. To the upside, resistances are at the January 29 high, near the 1.2000 psychological level, and the January 27 high, at 1.2082.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

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