EUR/USD rises to near 1.1650 amid dovish Fed expectations
- EUR/USD rises as the US Dollar weakens on dovish Federal Reserve expectations.
- US Nonfarm Payrolls rose 50,000 in December, below November’s revised 56,000 and the 60,000 forecast.
- UK- and Germany-led European nations are discussing boosting military presence in Greenland to strengthen Arctic security.
EUR/USD edges higher after registering gains in the previous six successive sessions, trading around 1.1650 during the Asian hours on Monday. The pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) struggles amid dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations. Friday’s slower-than-expected US jobs growth suggests the US central bank could hold interest rates steady later this month.
US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) rose by 50,000 in December, falling short of November's 56,000 (revised from 64,000) and came in weaker than the market expectation of 60,000. However, the Unemployment Rate ticked lower to 4.4% in December from 4.6% in November, while the Average Hourly Earnings climbed to 3.8% YoY in December from 3.6% in the previous reading.
Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said the decline in the unemployment rate was welcome and described job growth as modest but stable. Barkin added that it is difficult to find firms outside healthcare or AI that are hiring and said it remains unclear whether the labor market will tilt toward more hiring or more firing.
The Euro (EUR) could face additional downside as easing inflation in the Euro area dampens expectations for further policy tightening by the European Central Bank (ECB). Headline inflation slowed to 2.0% in December, a four-month low and in line with the ECB’s target, while core inflation eased to 2.3%, coming in slightly below forecasts.
Bloomberg reported that European nations led by the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany are discussing boosting their military presence in Greenland to reinforce Arctic security. Germany may propose a joint NATO mission, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged allies to step up efforts in the High North, amid renewed comments by US President Donald Trump advocating US ownership of Greenland.
Euro FAQs
The Euro is the currency for the 20 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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