The 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.
Eurozone Data Disappoints
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.
EUR/USD Technical
- 1.0758 is a weak support line, followed by 1.0633
- There is resistance at 1.0873 and 1.0954