EUR/USD soars to 1.1780 as US Dollar languishes on fiscal and trade optimism
- EUR/USD trades at 1.1776 after hitting a multi-year high of 1.1780 amid USD weakness.
- US fiscal deficit concerns and Fed cut bets drive the US Dollar to multi-year lows.
- German Retail Sales slump intensifies ECB’s growth worries ahead of key central bank speeches.
EUR/USD climbs to fresh yearly highs of 1.1780 on Monday as the Greenback continues to remain battered by the prospects of the approval of the fiscal budget in the United States (US) and the expectation that the Trump administration continues to make progress on trade deals with major trading partners. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.1776, up 0.51%.
Sentiment remains positive as depicted by US equity indices posting a solid second quarter in 2025, trading at all-time highs. Hence, the US Dollar (USD) is near multi-year lows amid expectations that the fiscal deficit will increase substantially, and market participants pricing in more than 50 basis points (bps) of easing by the Federal Reserve (Fed), boosted the shared currency to near four-year highs.
News that the European Union (EU) would accept Trump’s universal tariffs pushed EUR/USD higher. Nevertheless, the EU wants the US to lower duties on key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, alcohol, semiconductors and commercial aircraft.
Data in Europe revealed that German Retail Sales plunged. European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers appear concerned about economic growth and will remain data-dependent in setting their rate policy.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will share a panel with ECB’s President Christine Lagarde, Bank of England’s (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey, and Bank of Japan (BoJ) Chief Kazuo Ueda.
Daily digest market movers: EUR/USD rally continues as the Greenback weakens
- EUR/USD seems poised to challenge 1.1800. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the performance of the buck’s value against a basket of rivals, edges down 0.41% at 96.85, near almost four-year lows.
- The US fiscal deficit is set to increase by $3.3 trillion if the US Congress approves Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bil.” This could weaken the US Dollar and drive the Euro higher.
- The US economic docket is busy during this shortened week. The ISM Manufacturing PMI for June is forecast to improve from 48.5 to 48.8, while the ADP Employment Change is projected to improve from 37K private jobs added to the workforce to 85K.
- The crucial US Nonfarm Payrolls report in June is projected to show that the jobs market is softening, with estimates suggesting that the economy added just 110,000 people to the workforce, below last month’s 139,000. The Unemployment Rate is projected to rise from 4.2% to 4.3%.
- German Retail Sales in May plummeted by -1.6% MoM, below estimates of 0.5% expansion. Every year, it dipped from 2.3% to 1.6% YoY, and missed the forecast of a 3.3% increase.
- ECB’s de Guindos said the central bank faces “brutal uncertainty,” suggesting that Q2 and Q3 growth could be flat and must keep all options open. ECB’s Chief Economist, Philip Lane, said they may face larger deviations from the 2% inflation target on both sides. Simkus added that he is unsure if they have all the necessary data for the September meeting.
Euro technical outlook: EUR/USD set to test 1.1800 in the near-term
The EUR/USD trend remains up, with buyers gathering more momentum, as indicated by the Relative Strength Index (RSI). Although it is in overbought territory, as indicated by regular readings of the RSI, when the trend is strong, a reading between 70-80 suggests an acceleration of the move before reaching extreme readings. Therefore, further upside is seen.
The EUR/USD first supply zone would be 1.1800, followed by 1.1850 and 1.1900. On the flip side, if EUR/USD retreats below 1.1750, look for a dip to 1.1700. Further downside is seen if cleared, with the next demand zone at 1.1653, the June 26 daily low, ahead of 1.1600.
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
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