EUR/USD maintains a firm tone and extends gains for the sixth consecutive day on Monday, trading at two-week highs beyond 1.1620 at the time of writing. A downside correction of November’s Eurozone Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has failed to halt the Euro (EUR), which is dragging support from a generalized US Dollar weakness.
The US Dollar (USD) remains on the defensive, with investors bracing for a US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cut next week. Beyond that, US President Donald Trump might announce the White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, as the central bank’s next chairman, according to Reuters. Hasset is a vocal dove and is expected to bring Trump’s agenda of a loose monetary policy.
Later on Monday, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will participate in a panel discussion in Stanford, California, yet the highlight of the day will be the November ISM Manufacturing PMI release, due at 15:00 GMT.
Euro Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the British Pound.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.16% | 0.11% | -0.59% | 0.10% | 0.03% | 0.02% | -0.07% | |
| EUR | 0.16% | 0.28% | -0.34% | 0.27% | 0.20% | 0.19% | 0.09% | |
| GBP | -0.11% | -0.28% | -0.62% | -0.01% | -0.08% | -0.08% | -0.18% | |
| JPY | 0.59% | 0.34% | 0.62% | 0.61% | 0.53% | 0.53% | 0.43% | |
| CAD | -0.10% | -0.27% | 0.01% | -0.61% | -0.07% | -0.08% | -0.17% | |
| AUD | -0.03% | -0.20% | 0.08% | -0.53% | 0.07% | -0.01% | -0.09% | |
| NZD | -0.02% | -0.19% | 0.08% | -0.53% | 0.08% | 0.00% | -0.10% | |
| CHF | 0.07% | -0.09% | 0.18% | -0.43% | 0.17% | 0.09% | 0.10% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
Euro extends its recovery unfazed by the Eurozone’s weak manufacturing activity
- Eurozone’s final HCOB Manufacturing PMI revealed that the sector’s activity contracted to a five-month low of 49.6 in November, beyond the 49.7 reading seen at the preliminary estimation and down from 50.0 in October.
- The Euro, however, remains bid, mostly due to USD weakness. Growing bets that the Fed is cutting its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points next week and, a few more times next year, are keeping investors away from the US Dollar
- Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to participate in a panel at the Hoover Institute in a memorial lecture about George P. Schulz and Economic Policy, although he is not expected to talk about monetary policy because the Fed is in its blackout period ahead of the December meeting
- Later on, the focus will shift to November’s US ISM PMI, which is expected to have eased to 48.6 from 48.7 in October. The Prices Paid sub-index is seen growing to 59.6 from 50.0 in October. The employment gauge is likely to be observed with particular interest.
- The economic calendar is packed with data this week, with Eurozone Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) on Tuesday, Services PMIs from Eurozone and the US on Wednesday, together with the ADP Employment Change report, and the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Prices Index on Friday.
Technical Analysis: EUR/USD pierces the 1.1615 resistance area
US Dollar’s weakness is giving EUR/USD bulls confidence to test the top of the descending channel from early October highs, at 1.1615. Technical indicators are mixed; the 4-hour Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in bullish territory near the 60.0 level, but the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator is hovering around the signal line, which points to a fading bullish momentum.
A clear confirmation above the mentioned 1.1615 would signal a trend shift and bring the 1.1660 – 1.1670 area (October 28, 29, November 13, 14 highs) into focus. Further up, the next target is the October 17 high, right below 1.1730.
Immediate support remains at 1.1550 (around November 21 and 24 highs). Further down, the 1.1500 psychological level might hold bears ahead of the November 5 lows, near 1.1470.
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 20 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day.
EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy.
The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa.
The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control.
Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency.
A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall.
Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period.
If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.