- The Fed left interest rates unchanged as expected at the last meeting with a shift in
the statement that indicated the end of the tightening cycle. - The Summary of Economic Projections showed a
downward revision to Growth and Core PCE in 2024 while the Unemployment Rate
was left unchanged. Moreover, the Dot Plot was revised to show three rate cuts
in 2024 compared to just two in the last projection. - Fed Chair Powell didn’t push back against the strong dovish pricing
and even said that they are focused on not making the mistake of holding rates
high for too long. - The latest US PCE missed expectations across the board with
the Core 6-month annualised rate falling below the Fed’s target at 1.9%. - The NFP report beat
expectations although there was more weakness under the hood. - The latest ISM Manufacturing PMI beat expectations, while the ISM Services PMI missed by a big margin.
- The hawkish Fed members have been leaning
on a more neutral side lately. - The market expects the Fed to start cutting rates
in Q1 2024.
EUR
- The ECB left interest rates unchanged as
expected at the last meeting maintaining the usual data dependent language. - President Lagarde highlighted
once again that the risks to the economy are skewed to the downside and that
they did not discuss rate cuts, which was a pushback against the aggressive
market’s rate cut pricing. - The recent Eurozone CPI missed
expectations with the disinflationary process remaining intact. - The labour market remains historically
tight with the unemployment rate hovering at cycle lows. - The Eurozone PMIs missed
expectations across the board with both the Manufacturing and Services sectors
falling further into contraction. - The ECB members continue to repeat that they are
done with the tightening cycle and they are now debating when to start cutting
rates. - The market expects the ECB to start cutting rates in
Q2 2024.
EURUSD Technical Analysis –
Daily Timeframe
On the daily chart, we can see that EURUSD recently
bounced on the key trendline around
the 1.09 handle where we had also the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level
for confluence. This is
where the buyers stepped in with a defined risk below the trendline to position
for a rally into new highs. The sellers, on the other hand, will need the price
to break below the trendline to invalidate the bullish setup and position for a
drop into the 1.07 handle.
EURUSD Technical Analysis –
4 hour Timeframe
On the 4 hour chart, we can see that the pair got
stuck in a consolidation between the 1.09 support and the
1.10 resistance. The market might be waiting for the US CPI data before
deciding where to go next. The current setup though, gives us two possible
scenarios:
- A break to the upside should lead to a rally into a
new high. - A break to the downside is likely to trigger a
selloff into the 1.07 handle.
EURUSD Technical Analysis –
1 hour Timeframe
On the 1 hour chart, we can see more
closely the current price action with the pair bouncing around. There’s nothing
to do here other than waiting for the US CPI report and the trading setups to
guide the way.
Upcoming Events
Today we get the latest
US CPI report and the US Jobless Claims figures, while tomorrow we conclude the
week with the US PPI data.
This article was written by FL Contributors at www.forexlive.com.