|

Euro elevates as ECB decision takes center stage

  • Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence improved modestly in June.
  • Markets expect the ECB to hike interest rates on Thursday as inflation remains elevated.
  • Investors will be on the lookout for clues in Lagarde's comments about the ECB's future policy path.

The EUR/USD pair trades near 1.1540 on Monday as investors assess mixed Eurozone sentiment data and position ahead of the European Central Bank's (ECB) highly anticipated interest rate decision later this week.

Eurozone investor confidence improved in June, with the latest Sentix Investor Confidence index rising to -13.4 from -16.4 previously. Although the indicator remains in negative territory, the improvement suggests investor sentiment is becoming less pessimistic, offering modest support to the Euro.

Attention now turns to Thursday's ECB policy announcement, where markets expect policymakers to deliver another interest-rate hike as inflation remains above the central bank's target. Investors will closely monitor comments from Christine Lagarde for guidance on whether additional tightening could be required in the coming months.

Chart Analysis EUR/USD

Short-term technical analysis:

On the 4-hour chart, EUR/USD trades at 1.1540, retaining a bearish near-term bias as it remains below both the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 1.1587 and the 100-period SMA at 1.1621. The pair is attempting to stabilize just above short-term support, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 38 hints at lingering downside pressure but shy of oversold conditions, suggesting scope for further weakness if nearby resistance levels cap the upside.

On the topside, initial resistance emerges at 1.1544, followed by 1.1555; a sustained break above these levels would be needed to ease immediate selling pressure and expose the 20-period SMA at 1.1587 and then the 100-period SMA at 1.1621. On the downside, first support is seen at 1.1533, ahead of the lower horizontal floor at 1.1516, where a clear violation would likely reinforce the broader bearish tone and open the door to a deeper decline.

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

Author

Agustin Wazne

Agustin Wazne joined FXStreet as a Junior News Editor, focusing on Commodities and covering Majors.

More from Agustin Wazne
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD holds steady near 0.7200 amid escalating US-Iran tensions

AUD/USD consolidates just below its highest level since mid-May, touched on Friday, and hovers around 0.7200 at the start of a new week amid mixed cues. Hawkish RBA expectations continue to act as a tailwind for the Aussie. Meanwhile, the upbeat US NFP report lifted Fed rate hike bets, which, along with escalating US-Iran tensions, underpins the safe-haven US Dollar and caps the currency pair.

USD/JPY hovers around 156.00 as more hawkish BoJ bets cap gains

USD/JPY holds steady above 156.00 on Monday as the US Dollar draws support from escalating US-Iran tensions and rising Fed rate-hike bets, bolstered by Friday's upbeat NFP report. Moreover, concerns over Japan’s fiscal outlook keep the Japanese Yen on the back foot and support the currency pair, though more hawkish BoJ expectations and a suspected intervention cap the upside.

Gold flat lines above $4,400 as Fed hike bets and Iran tensions support USD

Gold kicks off the new week on a subdued note, though it holds above $4,400. Friday's upbeat US NFP report lifted Fed rate hike bets, which, along with escalating US-Iran tensions, underpin the safe-haven US Dollar and cap the bullion. The lack of follow-through selling, however, warrants caution before confirming that the recent bounce from a nearly four-week low has run out of steam.

The week ahead: Dollar at a crossroads as CPI and ECB take centre stage
With the summer finally over, investors returned with a strong appetite for action. Following last week’s strong performance, the US dollar has taken a back seat so far this week, as oil, the yen and sovereign bond yields monopolized market interest.
CFTC report: Oil rebound offsets broader positioning retreat
The week in one sentence: Speculative positioning became more defensive in the week ending September 1. Yen short positioning recorded the largest deterioration, while Gold length also retreated. Oil buying returned alongside stronger prices, and Canadian Dollar and Euro positioning improved, although Euro flows diverged from weaker spot prices.
Diesel’s record $100 warning: The oil shock hiding in plain sight

The Oil market may look calmer than it did a few months ago, but diesel is sending a very different message. The US diesel crack spread, the premium of ultra-low sulphur diesel futures over WTI, recently surged above $100 per barrel for the first time, reaching an intraday record of just over $102.00.