Euro and Swissi are currently the only majors against US Dollar that are strong.
EUR/USD climbs above 1.0820 after soft US PPI data
EUR/USD shoots to near 1.0820 as US PPI deflated wider than anticipated
UR/USD has jumped strongly to near 1.0820 as US PPI has softened significantly inspired by lower gasoline prices.
US monthly headline PPI has registered deflation while core PPI has maintained its pace at 0.2%.
The ECB is expected to raise interest rates by 25bps to 4% in order to sharpen its quantitative tools in the battle above 6% inflation.
The EUR/USD pair has accelerated dramatically to near 1.0820 after the United States Producer Price Index (PPI) data shows wider-than-expectations deflation. Monthly headline PPI contracted by 0.3% in May while the street was anticipating a 0.1% contraction. Investors should note that the economic data reported a pace of 0.2% in April. Annualized headline PPI has softened to 1.1% vs. the consensus of 1.5% and the prior release of 2.3%.
Contrary to that, US monthly core PPI has maintained its pace at 0.2% as expected by the market participants. The annualized core PPI has decelerated to 2.8% against the expectations of 2.9% and the former release of 3.1%.
The impact of weak oil prices is clearly visible in extremely soft PPI figures. Firms have passed on the impact of the sheer decline in gasoline prices to the end consumers as the street has not recognized any sign of a slowdown in the overall demand yet.
It looks like in the list of soft inflation, easing labor market conditions, and weak economic activities, decelerated PPI has been added, which would propel the need of skipping interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The US Dollar Index (DXY) has attracted significant offers after softer-than-anticipated and has dropped below the crucial support of 103.00.
On the Eurozone front, investors are awaiting the interest rate decision by the European Central Bank (ECB). ECB President Christine Lagarde is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4% in order to sharpen its quantitative tools in the battle above 6% inflation.
Economists at Danske Bank expect a pause by the Fed could pose near-term upside risks to EUR/USD, but we still maintain a bearish view on the cross towards the second half of CY2023.
The cautious optimism, however, continues as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB) will announce their decisions on monetary policy in the next 24 hours. In the upcoming American session, it will be the Fed’s turn, with the central bank also releasing the Summary of Economic Projections, the so-called dot plot- Additionally, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Chairman Jerome Powell will offer a press conference.
Big Picture
EUR BULLISH
Continued Eurozone growth over time, and much slower pace of rate cuts from the ECB relative to the Fed
Policy rates are unlikely to have peaked at 3.00%
Further ECB tightening supporting outlook for medium term strength
ECB will likely stay on the path possibly for a while longer
ECB may have another 150 bps of rates hikes to go to get to a terminal rate of 4%
Growth and monetary policy trends to support Euro
Declining inflation in the US ,reopening of China, and cheaper gas prices to avoid a significant economic slowdown
The rate hikes will continue and that’s positive for the Euro
An improving outlook for the eurozone economy and currency
Buying Euro on every ray of sunlight
Improving investor sentiment in Europe
Euro should show an increasingly solid recovery as the US outlook dims
ECB hawks are waking up
USD BEARISH
The hurdle for raising rates this month is higher, implying fresh US Dollar falls
Dollar weakness will pick up pace during 2024 as market attention turns toward Fed rate cuts
Fed feels more comfortable with receding inflation
US Dollar's position as the primary global reserve currency is being challenged
America on verge of losing petrodollar privilege
Other regions may need to continue their crusade for inflation, reducing spreads of debt securities yields
Combination of lower Fed rate expectations and improved risk sentiment is quintessentially negative
No more Fed hikes, potentially lethal to the US Dollar
US economy to slip into recession, Fed eventually cut rates quicker than peer institutions
Sticky inflation? What is sticky is the downtrend
EUR/USD BEARISH THEMES
EUR BEARISH
Russia is going to get rid of the Euros in their wealth fund
European Commission expects the eurozone economy to decline in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023
Italy’s debt could be a worry for the Eurozone
Inflation risks are to the upside, while growth risks are on the downside
ECB is moving from fighting inflation to worrying about inflation
Europe is in a great stress
Bracing for a tough winter
Underwhelming Eurozone growth should see ECB lag well behind the Fed
Europe is the biggest loser in the Russian-Ukrainian war
Recession seems likely in Germany
Energy crunch could last years
The route of the energy plan could drive to a lengthy, messy and choppy period
The war is still a huge drag on the European economy
USD BULLISH
When the dust settles, the Fed is set to continue raising rates
US to have permanently higher rates than elsewhere
Re-acceleration of inflation and its win over the Fed will continue to catch the market by surprise
The Dollar is higher for longer, alongside the Fed’s narrative
Stagflation to take USD even higher
Hot CPI means the Fed pivot is well beyond the horizon
Ugly inflation promises further flight to safety
US at war means a stronger dollar
Outlook for Fed monetary policy now more hawkish
Powell projects pain, higher rates for longer set to keep the dollar bid