EUR/USD Under Pressure as Momentum Breaks and ECB–Fed Gap Widens

Published 01/16/2026, 01:38 AM

EUR/USD has slipped back into clear bearish territory, with price rolling over from recent highs and momentum deteriorating sharply. The technical breakdown is increasingly aligned with a fundamental backdrop that continues to favour the US dollar, leaving the euro vulnerable to further downside unless key support levels hold.

Technical Picture: Breakdown from Range Signals Bearish Shift

On the daily chart, EUR/USD has lost upside momentum decisively, breaking below short-term support and key moving averages.

  • Price is trading below the 15-day and 20-day moving averages, both of which have turned lower
  • The recent failure near the 1.18 area marked a lower high within the broader range
  • Selling pressure has accelerated as the pair slipped back toward the 1.13–1.14 zone

This price action suggests a transition from consolidation into a bearish continuation phase rather than a temporary pullback.

EUR/USD-Daily Chart

Key Technical Levels

Support

  • 1.1350–1.1300: Immediate support zone
  • A daily close below 1.1300 would expose 1.1200, followed by 1.1100

Resistance

  • 1.1500–1.1530: Initial resistance and former support
  • 1.1700–1.1750: Major resistance and prior range highs
  • Only a sustained move back above 1.1750 would neutralize the bearish structure

Momentum Indicators

  • RSI (14) near 35, approaching oversold territory
  • Momentum has broken decisively below the 50 level, confirming bearish control
  • No clear bullish divergence is visible yet, leaving room for further downside before stabilization

Fundamental Drivers: Euro Undermined by Policy and Growth Divergence

European Central Bank: Dovish Bias Remains a Headwind

The euro continues to struggle as markets price in:

This keeps rate differentials structurally unfavourable for the euro.

Federal Reserve: Relative Support for the Dollar

On the U.S. side:

  • Growth remains more resilient than in the eurozone
  • The Fed continues to emphasize data dependence and patience
  • U.S. yields, while volatile, remain supportive relative to Europe

This dynamic reinforces the dollar’s advantage, particularly during periods of global uncertainty.

Broader Macro Backdrop: Risk Sensitivity Still Matters

EUR/USD remains sensitive to:

  • Shifts in global risk sentiment
  • Equity market volatility
  • Relative growth expectations

In the absence of a strong risk-on impulse, the euro tends to underperform.

Forward Scenarios

Bearish Continuation (Base Case)

  • Sustained trade below 1.1350
  • Opens downside toward 1.1200, then 1.1100
  • Likely driven by firm U.S. data or confirmation of ECB easing

Stabilization / Corrective Bounce

  • Oversold conditions could trigger a rebound toward 1.1500
  • Such moves are likely to face selling pressure unless fundamentals shift materially

EUR/USD has shifted decisively to a bearish posture, with weakening momentum now aligned with a clear policy and growth divergence favouring the U.S. dollar. While short-term oversold conditions may slow the decline, the broader setup continues to favour selling rallies rather than positioning for a sustained recovery.

Medium-term bias: Bearish

Short-term outlook: Weak, oversold risks emerging

Key risk: Sharp deterioration in U.S. data or an unexpected ECB hawkish turn

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