Euro stays under pressure against US Dollar despite softer ADP data

EUR/USD trades lower as hawkish Fed expectations support the US Dollar.
Softer-than-expected ADP employment data and easing Treasury yields limit the Greenback’s advance.
The ECB is expected to deliver its second interest-rate increase of the year next week.

Vishal Chaturvedi FXStreet

EUR/USD consolidates its daily losses during American trading hours on Wednesday as the US Dollar (USD) holds firm, supported by hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations and escalating tensions in the Middle East. However, weaker-than-expected United States (US) labour market data and a modest pullback in US Treasury yields limit the Greenback’s advance. At the time of writing, the pair trades around 1.1580, down -0.11% on the day.

The ADP Employment Change showed that US private-sector payrolls increased by 38K in August, below market expectations of 47K and the upwardly revised July increase of 46K. The figures point to slowing hiring ahead of Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP).

US Treasury yields ease across the curve on Wednesday but remain close to recent highs. The benchmark 10-year yield trades around 4.78% after briefly touching 4.81%, its highest level since October 2023. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against a basket of six major currencies, trades around 99.74 after reaching a two-week high near 99.87.

New York Fed President John Williams said on Wednesday that “yields are rising on a strong economy and strong outlook,” adding that they “don’t seem to be driven by the inflation outlook.” Williams noted that “there is a correlation between bond yields and the Middle East conflict.”

The broader outlook continues to favour the Greenback as traders increase bets that the Fed could raise interest rates as soon as September, particularly after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh adopted a tougher stance on inflation at the Jackson Hole Symposium last week. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the probability of a rate hike at the September 15-16 meeting stands at around 70%, up from 36% a week ago.

Escalating hostilities between the US and Iran are also supporting the Greenback while weighing on the Euro. The latest exchange of strikes has pushed Oil prices higher, fuelling inflation concerns and raising expectations that major central banks could keep monetary policy restrictive for longer.

Against this backdrop, the European Central Bank (ECB) is widely expected to raise its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50% at its September 9-10 meeting, marking its second increase this year. Preliminary Eurozone inflation data for August showed that the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) accelerated to 3.3% YoY from 2.9% in July, strengthening the case for another rate hike. Looking ahead, the Eurozone Producer Price Index (PPI) is due on Thursday, followed by Retail Sales data on Friday.

Economic Indicator

Nonfarm Payrolls

The Nonfarm Payrolls release presents the number of new jobs created in the US during the previous month in all non-agricultural businesses; it is released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The monthly changes in payrolls can be extremely volatile. The number is also subject to strong reviews, which can also trigger volatility in the Forex board. Generally speaking, a high reading is seen as bullish for the US Dollar (USD), while a low reading is seen as bearish, although previous months' reviews and the Unemployment Rate are as relevant as the headline figure. The market's reaction, therefore, depends on how the market assesses all the data contained in the BLS report as a whole.

Why it matters to traders?

America’s monthly jobs report is considered the most important economic indicator for forex traders. Released on the first Friday following the reported month, the change in the number of positions is closely correlated with the overall performance of the economy and is monitored by policymakers. Full employment is one of the Federal Reserve’s mandates and it considers developments in the labor market when setting its policies, thus impacting currencies. Despite several leading indicators shaping estimates, Nonfarm Payrolls tend to surprise markets and trigger substantial volatility. Actual figures beating the consensus tend to be USD bullish.

Author

Vishal Chaturvedi

FXStreet

I am a macro-focused research analyst with over four years of experience covering forex and commodities market. I enjoy breaking down complex economic trends and turning them into clear, actionable insights that help traders stay ahead of the curve.

GBP/USD remains offered near 1.3470

GBP/USD adds to the multi-day negative streak and retreats toward the 1.3470 zone on Wednesday, or four-week troughs. Cable’s deep correction comes on the back of the unabated recovery in the Greenback and the persistent geopolitical concerns.

EUR/USD bounces off lows; still below 1.1600 post-ADP

EUR/USD now manages to pick up some pace and revisits the 1.1580 region on Wednesday. That said, the pair rebounds from earlier two-week lows following some loss of momentum in the US Dollar soon after the ADP report came in short of expectations in August.

Gold treads water above $4,300

Following an earlier pullback to the $4,280 region per troy ounce, Gold prices now regain some composure and reclaim the $4,300 mark, advancing modestly for the day and setting aside three consecutive days of losses. The precious metal’s lacklustre rebound comes amid modest gains in the US Dollar, steady geopolitical uncertainty and mixed US Treasury yields.

WTI advances to mid-$90.00s, fresh high since July 24 amid escalating US-Iran tensions

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – scales higher for the third straight day – also marking the fifth day of a positive move in the previous six – and climbs to a fresh high since July 24 during the Asian session on Wednesday.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP edge lower as renewed US-Iran tensions weigh

The cryptocurrency market is pulling back broadly on Wednesday as investors adopt a cautious stance, with Bitcoin consolidating near its short-term support at $77,000. Ethereum remains under pressure, slipping toward $2,400. Ripple is also trending lower.

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.