EUR/USD hits one-week highs beyond 1.1570 as sentiment brightens

EUR/USD pierces the range top at 1.1570 amid a brighter market mood.
Eurozone Services PMI has been revised slightly higher in March.
Investors hold their breath ahead of Trump's deadline for destroying Iran.

Guillermo Alcala FXStreet

The Euro (EUR) has brushed off previous weakness to extend its recovery against the US Dollar (USD) to reach fresh weekly highs above 1.1570 on Tuesday's European morning session. The market sentiment has improved, with European equities turning positive after a negative opening, and Eurozone services activity revised up, which has provided some support for the common currency.

Eurozone HCOB Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) has been revised to 50.2 on Tuesday from the 50.1 preliminary reading, although it remains significantly below February's 51.9 reading. Among country members, Spain's services activity stands out with a 53.3 reading, although France's services contracted for the third consecutive month, and Germany's expansion was revised down to 50.9 from preliminary estimations of 51.2.

Investors' appetite for risk remains limited as the US deadline to Iran draws closer. US President Donald Trump reiterated his threats on Monday, warning Tehran that the US could destroy the country tonight if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened before Tuesday, at 8 PM Easter Time (00:00 GMT on Wednesday).

Previously, the US and Iran rejected the 45-day ceasefire proposal offered by Pakistan, and Tehran came out with an alternative plan, considered “significant” by Trump but not good enough.

Before that, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Governing Council member, Dimitar Radev, affirmed that it is still “too early” to say whether the bank will hike rates in April, as they might need some data amid the elevated level of uncertainty.

Technical Analysis: Pushing against the range top

The EUR/USD has turned higher, with technical indicators in the 4-hour chart suggesting an incipient bullish momentum. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) nears 60 after having remained flat around the 50 level, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is popping up above zero, although the MACD line remains practically flat.

A confirmation above the near-term channel's top, at the 1.1570 area, would expose the late March and early April highs, in the area between 1.1630 and 1.1640. Further up, the March 10 high, at 1.1667, emerges as a plausible target.

Immediate support emerges at the 1.1505 area, which held bears on April 2 and 6. A confirmation below here would expose the March 30 and 31 lows near 1.1440, ahead of the multi-month lows, at 1.1411 hit in mid-March.

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

Economic Indicator

HCOB Services PMI

The Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis by S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), is a leading indicator gauging business activity in the Eurozone services sector. As the services sector dominates a large part of the economy, the Services PMI is an important indicator gauging the state of overall economic conditions. The data is derived from surveys of senior executives at private-sector companies from the services sector. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month and can anticipate changing trends in official data series such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial production, employment and inflation. The index varies between 0 and 100, with levels of 50.0 signaling no change over the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates that the services economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the Euro (EUR). Meanwhile, a reading below 50 signals that activity among services providers is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for EUR.

Economic Indicator

HCOB Composite PMI

The Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis by S&P Global and Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), is a leading indicator gauging private-business activity in the Eurozone for both the manufacturing and services sectors. The data is derived from surveys to senior executives. Each response is weighted according to the size of the company and its contribution to total manufacturing or services output accounted for by the sub-sector to which that company belongs. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month and can anticipate changing trends in official data series such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial production, employment and inflation. The index varies between 0 and 100, with levels of 50.0 signaling no change over the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates that the private economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the Euro (EUR). Meanwhile, a reading below 50 signals that activity is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for EUR.

GBP/USD keeps the bid bias near 1.3550

GBP/USD leaves behind part of the recent three-day retracement and hovers around the 1.3550 region on Monday. The Greenback’s fresh downward trend helps Cable and the rest of the risk complex recoup part of the recent ground lost while attention remains on the potential Fed rate path.

EUR/USD retakes 1.1600; looks at the 200-day SMA

EUR/USD manages to gather fresh steam and advances past the 1.1600 hurdle as Monday’s NA session draws to a close. Indeed, the pair patially reverses Friday’s sharp retracement amid the renewed downside momentum in the US Dollar. Moving forward, the flash Inflation Rate in the euro zone and US JOLTs and the ISM Manufacturing should keep investors entertained on turnaround Tuesday.

Gold bulls seem hesitant above $4,450 on USD demand

Gold is struggling to build on the overnight bounce from sub-$4,400 levels in Asia on Tuesday amid a stronger US Dollar. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's hawkish message, along with inflation risks stemming from higher oil prices, lift September rate-hike bets. Adding to this, escalating US-Iran tensions could support the safe-haven USD, warranting caution for XAU/USD bulls.

Bitcoin holds near $80,000 amid cooling spot activity and stable institutional demand

Bitcoin is trading near $80,000 on Monday despite weakening activity across spot and derivatives markets. In a report on Monday, Glassnode noted that the top crypto briefly broke above $80,000 before consolidating near its current level, as price momentum declined 5% over the past seven days, falling from 85.5 to 81.2.

Fed Chair Warsh runs open-mouth operations at Jackson Hole but can he deliver?

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh moved markets on Friday with his Jackson Hole speech, even though the central bank has yet to do anything to move inflation. Clearly, Warsh wants to convey a message. He’s tough on inflation, and the Fed will “deliver price stability.”

Diesel’s record $100 warning: The oil shock hiding in plain sight

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