|

Euro: Downside risks persists against US Dollar – ING

ING’s Francesco Pesole maintains a bearish bias on EUR/USD, noting markets have raised the bar for trading positive Middle East headlines. He highlights 1.1570 as key support and recalls the early-March break below 1.160. While positioning is more balanced, the macro backdrop has turned less supportive for the Euro (EUR) as rising USD rates widen EUR:USD swap spreads again.

Key support at 1.1570 in focus

"We still see risks skewed to the downside for EUR/USD, as markets appear to have raised the bar for trading on positive Middle East headlines. The next support to watch is 1.1570."

"On 3 March, at the start of the conflict, EUR/USD moved below 1.160 for the first time and gapped lower after breaking the 1.1570 mark."

"Positioning is now far more balanced, suggesting that the risk of abrupt technical sell-offs is more contained. However, the macro environment has clearly turned less supportive for the euro."

"The two-year EUR:USD swap spread has widened back to around -100bp, from a peak of -65bp in early April."

"The rise in USD rates is undermining risk sentiment and reversing the rate differential tightening that had provided a buffer for EUR/USD during the energy crisis."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD remains depressed 0.7000, awaits FOMC Minutes

AUD/USD struggles to capitalize on its recent recovery move and trades with a negative bias below 0.7000 in Wednesday's Asian session. Amid geopolitical uncertainty, the US Dollar attracts some dip-buyers after a fresh leg up in US bond yields, keeping the pair under pressure despite hawkish RBA expectations. All eyes now remain on the FOMC Minutes.

USD/JPY holds firm near 158.50 ahead of Fed Minutes

USD/JPY hangs close to a one-and-a-half-week high near 158.50 in the Asian session on Wednesday, with bulls now awaiting a move beyond the 200-day SMA hurdle before positioning for further gains ahead of the FOMC Minutes. Meanwhile, a fresh leg up in US bond yields revives US Dollar demand amid geopolitical uncertainties, boosting the pair amid dovish BoJ commentary.

Gold extends range play around $4,150, with eyes on FOMC Minutes

Gold edges lower in the Asian session on Wednesday, stalling the previous day's goodish bounce from the $4,100 neighborhood, or a two-month low. The safe-haven US Dollar attracts some dip-buyers following this week’s pullback from the YTD high amid geopolitical uncertainties. This, along with a fresh leg up in US bond yields, caps non-yielding bullion, which remains confined within a one-week-old range ahead of FOMC Minutes.

ZEC expands institutional momentum as Winklevoss files for Zcash ETF
Winklevoss Asset Services, co-owned by crypto exchange Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday for the Winklevoss Zcash (ZEC) ETF. The filing proposes a fund that would hold ZEC and seek to track its price.
RBI looks set to step up Repo Rate by 25 bps to 5.5%

The Reserve Bank of India is set to announce its bi-monthly monetary policy decision on Wednesday at 10:00 AM IST, in a meeting where the central bank is expected to initiate an interest rate hike cycle after maintaining a status-quo so far this calendar year. According to the market consensus, the RBI will hike its key Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% from 5.25%.

Eurozone inflation just hit 3.8%, its highest in three years. This chart shows why the ECB can’t simply hike its way out

The ECB would normally have a relatively straightforward answer to inflation running almost twice its target: raise interest rates. But these are not normal circumstances. This time, the bond market is already doing part of the tightening for it, leaving the ECB facing an increasingly difficult dilemma.