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EUR/USD calm as Lagarde says disinflation on the right trackThe euro is showing limited movement on Tuesday. In the North American session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0806, down 0.07% on the day. Earlier, the euro fell as low as 1.0800, its lowest level since Aug. 2. The European Central Bank has been aggressive in its rate-cutting cycle and has trimmed 75 basis points this year. The key interest rate has been brought down to 3.25%, its lowest level since February 2023. There is room for further cuts, as the eurozone economy is struggling and inflation has dropped to 1.6%, comfortably below the ECB’s target of 2%. ECB members are sounding optimistic about deflation, which is necessary for the central bank to continue cutting rates. ECB Governing Council member Peter Kazimir said on Monday that he expects inflation to drop to the 2% target in 2025. Kazimir said he was “increasingly confident that the disinflation path is on a solid footing”. This optimistic view was echoed by ECB President Lagarde on Tuesday. Lagarde reiterated that she expected the inflation target to be reached in 2025 and that the inflation numbers were “relatively reassuring”. Still, Lagarde added a note of caution, saying that services inflation was at 3.9% and the inflation battle was not yet won. The Federal Reserve is expected to continue cutting rates in the final two meetings of the year, but by how much? The Fed showed its aggressive side last month when it started its rate-cutting cycle with a jumbo cut of 50 basis points. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Monday that the September rate decision was a “close call” and she expected further rate cuts in order to prevent the labor market from continuing to weaken. EUR/USD tested resistance at 1.0833 earlier. Above, there is resistance at 1.0854 1.0793 and 1.0772 are providing support
by OANDA
EUR/USD dips to 1-month lowThe euro has fallen for three straight sessions and has extended its losses on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, EUR/USD fell below the 1.07 line for the first time since Jan. 23. German and eurozone numbers have been soft this week, adding to the euro's woes. Eurozone retail sales fell 2.7% in December, worse than the estimate of -2.5% and well off the November read of 1.2%. German Industrial Production came in at -3.2% in December, down from 0.4% in November and below the expectation of -0.6%. Germany is the locomotive of the bloc but the engine is stuttering, which is bad news for the rest of the eurozone. GDP in Q4 contracted by 0.2%, retail sales for December slumped by 5.3% and Manufacturing PMI remains mired in contraction territory. The US dollar received a much-needed boost from the January nonfarm payroll report, as the 517,000 gain crushed expectations. There are no major releases out of the US today, but Fed Chair Powell will participate in a panel discussion. If Powell strikes a hawkish tone, the US dollar could extend its gains. There are a host of Fed members speaking this week, and if they reiterate the "higher for longer" stance that the Fed continues to embrace, the US dollar could continue to move north. How will the Fed react to the stellar employment report?  Fed member Mary Daly called the employment release a "wow number" and said that the Fed's December forecast of a peak rate of 5.1% was a "good indicator" of Fed policy. With the benchmark rate currently at 4.5%-4.75%, we're likely looking at two more rate hikes, exactly what Jerome Powell said at the FOMC meeting last week. The spike in job creation has raised hopes that the Fed can pull off a "soft landing" and there is even talk on Wall Street of a "no landing" which would mean that a recession could be avoided. 1.0758 is a weak support line, followed by 1.0633 There is resistance at 1.0873 and 1.0954
by OANDA
EUR/USD extends lossesThe euro continues to lose ground and has started the week in negative territory. In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0783, down 0.19%. Earlier in the day, the euro has now fallen to its lowest level since Jan. 23. The euro sent market participants on a roller-coaster ride last week. The Fed's rate increase pushed the euro higher by 1.16%, but the ECB rate hike and the blowout US nonfarm payroll report sent the euro tumbling close to 2%. The January US nonfarm payrolls was an absolute blowout that surprised everybody. The economy created 517,000 new jobs, crushing the estimate of 185,000 and well above the December gain of 260,000. The unemployment rate fell from 3.5% to 3.4%, its lowest rate since 1969. The US dollar surged against most of the major currencies after the employment report and the euro fell by 1%. There has been talk that the Fed might deliver a "one and done" rate hike in March which would end the current rate-hike cycle, even though Jerome Powell said at last week's FOMC meeting that two more rate hikes were likely. After the massive gain in nonfarm payrolls, the "one and done" proponents will be lying low. How will the Fed react to the job data? The labour market, which has shown remarkable resilience to the Fed's steep rate-tightening cycle, is much too strong for the Fed's liking, as a weaker labour market is needed for inflation to continue falling. Fed member Mary Daly called the employment release a "wow number" and said that the Fed's December forecast of a peak rate of 5.1% was a "good indicator" of Fed policy. With the benchmark rate currently at 4.5%-4.75%, we're likely looking at two more rate hikes, exactly what Jerome Powell said at the FOMC meeting last week. Since the employment report, the markets have become less dovish and have priced in an increase in May. Eurozone data was a mixed bag today. German factory orders bounced back in December with a gain of 3.2% m/m, after a 4.4% decline in November. The estimate stood at 2.0%. Eurozone Sentix Investor Confidence improved to -8.0, up from -17.5 points. However, eurozone retail sales slid 2.7% m/m in January, down from a 1.2% gain in December and worse than the consensus of -2.5%. 1.0758 is a weak support line, followed by 1.0633 There is resistance at 1.0873 and 1.0954
by OANDA
AUD/USD edges lower, CPI nextThe Australian dollar is in negative territory on Tuesday. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6898, down 0.21%. This follows a two-day rally in AUD/USD climbed over 2%. It could be a busy week for the Australian dollar, with Australia releasing CPI on Wednesday, followed by the US on Thursday. Australian headline inflation dropped to 6.9% in October, down from 7.3% a month earlier. The markets are bracing for inflation to rise again, with a forecast of 7.3% for December. As well, the trimmed mean rate (core CPI) is also expected to rise to 5.5%, up from 5.3%. The RBA is widely expected to continue its tightening at the February 7th meeting. The markets are currently pricing in a 25-basis point hike at 60%, and this will likely rise if inflation reverses directions and climbs higher on Wednesday, as expected. The RBA is well aware of the pain that high rates are causing to consumers and businesses and remains flexible with its rate policy. The minutes of the December meeting indicated that the RBA considered three options at that meeting - a 25 bp hike, a 50-bp hike and a pause. In the end, RBA members opted for the 25-bp increase. The Fed hasn't had much success in convincing the markets to adopt its outlook on interest rates. The markets have stubbornly clung to a dovish approach, pricing in a terminal rate of 4.93%. In contrast, the Fed dot plot indicates a terminal rate of 5-5.25%. But you can't fault the Fed for not trying. On Monday, two non-voting FOMC members reiterated the Fed's hawkish stance, saying that rates would likely rise above 5%. Atlanta Fed President Rafael Bostic said he expected rates to remain above the 5% level for "a long time" and that he would put rates on hold throughout 2024. Bostic added that if Thursday's inflation data showed inflation easing, it would strengthen the case for reducing the rate hike at the February meeting to 25 basis points. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly echoed this stance, saying that holding rates at its peak for 11 months was a "reasonable starting point." If inflation is stronger than expected, the markets may listen a bit more closely. Conversely, a soft inflation release will make it harder for the Fed to convince the markets that it is not planning to wind up the current tightening cycle with a "one and done" hike in February. AUD/USD has support at 0.6703 and 0.6620 There is resistance at 0.6841 and 0.6969
by OANDA
USD/CAD rises as retail sales slipThe Canadian dollar is in positive territory on Tuesday. In the North American session, USD/CAD is trading at 1.3400, down 0.39%. The Canadian consumer was not in a spending mood in September, as retail sales declined by 0.5%, following a 0.4% gain a month earlier. The forecast stood at -0.4%. Core retail sales fell by 0.7%, worse than the consensus of -0.4% and the prior reading of 0.5%. Despite the weak data, the Canadian dollar has managed to post gains today, thanks to a broad US dollar pullback. The drop in retail sales will put a damper on expectations of a 50-basis point hike at the December meeting, as the Bank of Canada will likely deliver a modest 25-bp hike. Inflation, the bank's number one priority, remains very high at 6.9%, as the BoC's aggressive rate-hike cycle is yet to show results. The benchmark rate is currently at 3.75%, and like the Federal Reserve, there's more life remaining in the current rate-tightening cycle. The BoC is closely monitoring employment and retail sales data, as strong numbers will make it easier for the bank to continue hiking as policy makers look for that elusive peak in inflation. The recent US inflation report triggered a wave of exuberance, sending equity markets higher and the US dollar on a nasty slide. Investors became more confident that Fed was close to a pivot in its aggressive policy and risk sentiment soared. The Fed has pushed back hard, with Fed members delivering hawkish statements and projections, which has chilled risk appetite and stabilized the US dollar. Fed member Mary Daly weighed in on Monday, stating that inflation remained unacceptably high and projecting that the fed funds rate will peak at 4.75%-5.00%. USD/CAD tested resistance at 1.3455 earlier in the day. Next, there is resistance at 1.3523 There is support at 1.3341 and 1.3218
by OANDA