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Euro climbs as Lagarde points to rate hikes

Home >  Daily Market Digest >  Euro climbs as Lagarde points to rate hikes

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Written by:
Myrsini Giannouli

24 May 2022
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Important calendar events

  • JPY: Flash Manufacturing PMI, Annual BOJ Core CPI
  • EUR: French, German, and Eurozone Flash Services PMI, French, German, and Eurozone Flash Manufacturing PMI, ECOFIN Meetings
  • GBP: Flash Services PMI, Flash Manufacturing PMI, Public Sector Net Borrowing
  • USD: Flash Services PMI, Flash Manufacturing PMI, New Home Sales

USD

The dollar retreated from its 20-year high last week facing its worst week since January, with the dollar index falling from 104.6 to 102.7. The dollar continued to decrease on Monday, with the dollar index falling to the 102 level. Bond yields remained steady on Monday, with the US 10-year treasury note yielding approximately 2.8%.

Last week, market sentiment was unstable, while the dollar’s high price tempted traders to close long positions, realizing their profits. The USD, which had been trading in overbought territory, softened, also weakened by the lack of support from Treasury yields. 

The dollar has been boosted by hawkish Fed policy and increased risk-aversion sentiment for the past couple of months. Continued Russian hostilities against Ukraine have increased risk-aversion sentiment, providing support for the safe-haven dollar. As there is still no end in sight to the crisis, the dollar’s appeal as an investment remains high, although risk appetite seems to be gradually returning to markets. 

On Monday, US President Biden announced a plan of cutting China tariffs, to reduce inflation. The move increased risk sentiment, pushing the safe-haven dollar down. The Euro’s rise on Monday also put pressure on the dollar, as ECB President Christine Lagarde shifted towards a more hawkish direction, boosting the Euro.

In its latest monetary policy meeting, the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 base points to 1%. This is the first time that the Fed has performed such a steep rate hike since 2000. The Fed has also announced that it would move towards a policy of gradual quantitative tightening. The Fed’s balance sheet has risen to approximately 9 trillion USD during the pandemic and the US Central Bank has decided to start trimming its balance sheet.

Several US financial indicators are scheduled to be released on Tuesday and may affect the dollar. Chief among them, are Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI data. PMI data are indicators of economic health and are likely to have an impact on the dollar.

TRADE USD PAIRS

EUR 

The Euro continued gaining strength against the dollar on Monday, with the EUR/USD climbing to its highest level in a month, of 1.070, after breaking through the 1.064 level resistance. If the currency pair goes up, it may encounter resistance at 1.093. If the currency pair falls, it may encounter support at the 1.036 level which represents the 2016 low, and further down near a 20-year low of 0.985.

Increased risk-aversion sentiment and hawkish Fed policy have been boosting the dollar these past few weeks at the expense of other currencies, with the Euro suffering heavy losses. The dollar, which had been moving in overbought territory, has been slipping since last week, as market risk appetite begins to recover. 

On Monday, economic data on German business morale were positive for the Eurozone’s leading economy, boosting the Euro. ECB President Christine Lagarde posted an uncharacteristically hawkish statement on Monday. Lagarde pointed to rate hikes in Q3 of this year, which would bring the ECB’s interest rate at least to zero and possibly to positive territory. 

Clear indications from the ECB that it would move towards a more hawkish policy this year, have boosted the Euro. Markets are now pricing in up to 105 base points rate hikes throughout the year. ECB members are starting to agree on a more hawkish policy starting in the third quarter of the year and the consensus between them seems to be that the ECB will perform its first rate hike in decades at its next policy meeting in July. The US Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 base points to 1%, highlighting the difference in monetary policy between the EU and the US and has been driving the Euro down. 

Last month, headline inflation in the Eurozone was slightly lower than expected, reaching 7.4% in April, while core CPI was at 3.5%. Investors were expecting higher EU inflation rates for April, as increasing energy costs are augmenting inflationary pressures. 

Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI data are scheduled to be released on Tuesday for some of the EU’s leading economies and the Eurozone as a whole. PMI data are indicators of economic health and may have a strong impact on the Euro. ECOFIN meetings will also take place on Tuesday and their outcome may affect the currency.

EURUSD 1hr chart

TRADE EUR PAIRS

GBP 

The sterling climbed last week, taking advantage of the weakening dollar, with the GBP/USD rate closing near the 1.25 level on Friday. On Monday, the sterling continued to rise, benefitting from the weakening dollar, with GBP/USD reaching the 1.26 level. If the GBP/USD rate goes up, it may encounter resistance at the 1.263 level and further up near the 1.308 level, while if it declines, support may be found near the two-year low at 1.206. 

The sterling has rallied, supported by a weakening dollar and positive UK economic data. The dollar has been pushed down from its 20-year highs due to a combination of unstable market sentiment and probable profit-taking on long positions. Other assets have profited from the dollar’s weakness, although risk-aversion sentiment remains high, checking the sterling’s advance. 

The sterling has been losing ground against the dollar due to the divergence in monetary policy between the Fed and the BOE. Although the BOE started the year with a strong hawkish policy, it has recently backed down and moderated its stance, weighted down by the still fragile British economy. In contrast, the increasingly hawkish Fed policy is boosting the dollar against the pound. In its latest monetary policy meeting, the Bank of England raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 base points, bringing its rate to a 13-year high of 1%. 

Headline inflation in the UK rose to 9% in April, while core inflation hit 6.2%. Headline inflation reached a new 40-year high, highlighting the need for legislative action to tame soaring inflation rates. The cost of living in the UK has been increasing, driven primarily by the high cost of energy imports, putting pressure on UK households. Stagflation is a risk for the UK economy, as for many other countries, as economic stagnation coupled with rising inflation creates a toxic mix for the economy.

UK Flash Manufacturing and Services PMI data are scheduled to be released on Tuesday and may impact the sterling, as they are strong indicators of economic health.

GBPUSD 1hr chart

TRADE GBP PAIRS

JPY

The Yen climbed last week, benefitting from the weakening dollar, with the USD/JPY rate falling to the 127.9 level. On Monday, the Yen traded sideways against the dollar, even as the dollar weakened, with the USD/JPY fluctuating around the 127.6 level. If USD/JPY rises again, it may find resistance at 131.35 and further up at the 2002 high of 135.3. If the USD/JPY declines, support might be found near the 127 level and further down near the 121.3 level. 

The Yen has been oversold over the past few months and began gaining some traction last week, attracting market attention as a safer investment. The dollar is also a safe-haven currency but has been trading in overbought territory and has been slipping. On Monday however, increased risk sentiment put pressure on both currencies.

The Yen has been retreating for months, with market interest in the currency slowing down, despite global economic risks. The currency, which has been oversold, regained some of its lost ground at the end of last week, but the outlook for the USD/JPY pair remains bullish.

Bond yields have fallen across Japan’s treasury curve due to low demand. Japan’s 10-year government bond yield auction maintained the 0.25% interest rate as the BOJ continues to buy an unlimited amount of Japanese treasury bonds, defending their current low yield.  In contrast, the respective US 10-year bond is offered with a yield of nearly 3%, more than an order of magnitude higher than the Japanese bond. The large divergence in bond yields makes the low-yielding Yen less appealing to investors than the dollar, pushing its price further down.

The primary driver of the Yen over the past few months has been the BOJ’s fiscal policy, with the BOJ following an ultra-easy monetary policy to support the struggling economy. While other countries are moving towards quantitative tightening to return to pre-pandemic fiscal policies, Japan continues to pour money into the economy and maintains its negative interest rate. The difference in interest rates with other major Central Banks, especially with the Fed, puts the Yen at a disadvantage, driving its price down.

Flash Manufacturing PMI and Annual BOJ Core CPI data are scheduled to be released on Tuesday and may provide insight into the state of the economy and inflation rates in Japan.

USDJPY 1hr chart

TRADE JPY PAIRS

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Written by:
Myrsini Giannouli

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