EUR/USD slumps by over 1% as US President Trump reiterates tariff threats on Eurozone
- EUR/USD faces an intense sell-off as US President Donald Trump confirms that he will impose tariffs on the European Union.
- The US Dollar strengthens as investors rush to safe-haven fleet amid global trade war.
- Investors await the US ISM Manufacturing PMI data for January.
EUR/USD nosedives over 1% to near 1.0240 at the start of the week. The major currency pair plummets as United States (US) President Donald Trump reiterates threats to impose tariffs on the European Union (EU). Over the weekend, Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China. Trump also warned that he will also raise levies on the trading bloc, but he didn’t provide much information.
"It will definitely happen with the European Union. I can tell you that because they've really taken advantage of us," Trump said. He also accused the old continent of not buying enough US cars and farm products. Trump added that the EU take “almost nothing and we take everything from them”.
The imposition of tariffs on the Eurozone will accelerate its troubles. The shared currency bloc is already facing risks of a slowdown. Preliminary Eurozone Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the fourth quarter of 2024 showed that the economy was flat after expanding 0.4% in the third quarter. The shrinking German economy remained the weak link to the Eurozone's flat GDP growth. Flash German GDP data showed that the economy contracted by 0.2% year-over-year in the last quarter of 2024.
Signs of further weakness in the Eurozone economy could force the European Central Bank (ECB) to continue reducing interest rates. The ECB reduced its Deposit Facility rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.75% on Thursday and guided that the monetary policy path is clear, which is expansionary. Traders have fully priced in three interest rate cuts and see them coming by the summer as ECB officials are confident that inflation will sustainably return to the desired rate of 2% this year.
On Monday, a flash Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) report for January showed that price pressures deflated on a month-on-month basis. The core HICP – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – deflated by 1% after growing 0.5% in December. In the same period, the headline HICP also deflated by 0.4%. On year, the headline HICP rose steadily by 2.7%, faster than estimates of 2.6%. The core HICP rose expectedly by 2.5%, faster than expectations of 2.4%.
Daily digest market movers: EUR/USD plunges as USD’s safe-haven appeal increases
- EUR/USD faces an intense sell-off due to the strength of the US Dollar (USD). The safe-haven demand for the US Dollar has increased significantly as US President Trump has started a trade war. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, surges above 109.50.
- The US Dollar’s movement is mainly influenced by Trump’s comments on global trade. However, investors will also focus on a slew of US economic data, such as ISM Manufacturing and Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), ADP Employment Change and the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) for January, and JOLTS Job Openings for December, which will release this week.
- Investors will pay close attention to labor market-related data to know its current status. On Wednesday, the Fed kept interest rates at their current levels and guided that the central bank will stay in the waiting mode until it sees “real progress in inflation or some weakness in the labor market”.
- In Monday’s session, investors will focus on the US Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and the revised S&P Global Manufacturing PMI data for January.
Technical Analysis: EUR/USD plummets to near 1.0200
EUR/USD dives vertically to near 1.0200. Last week, the major currency pair started declining after a short-lived recovery move to 1.0533, which market participants capitalized for adding shorts. The pair has fallen below the 20- and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) around 1.0378 and 1.0440, respectively, suggesting a bearish trend.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) slides below 40.00, suggesting a strong bearish momentum.
Looking down, the January 13 low of 1.0177 and the round-level support of 1.0100 will act as major support zones for the pair. Conversely, the psychological resistance of 1.0500 will be the key barrier for the Euro bulls.
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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