EUR/USD holds positive ground above 1.0950 ahead of US CPI release
- EUR/USD gains traction to near 1.0980 in Thursday’s Asian session.
- Germany's Merz unveils coalition deal to boost growth and tackle migration.
- Trump announced a 90-day pause on many new tariffs on trading partners.
The EUR/USD pair attracts some buyers to around 1.0980 during the Asian session on Thursday. The Euro (EUR) edges higher against the Greenback as German conservative leader agreed on a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats on Wednesday. The US March Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report will be the highlight later on Thursday.
On Wednesday, German conservatives under Friedrich Merz clinched a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) to boost growth in Europe's biggest economy amid a global trade war that threatens recession. This development is likely to lift the shared currency against the US Dollar (USD) in the near term.
The improved sentiment after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on many new tariffs on trading partners also provides some support to the EUR. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he authorized a 90-day pause on new tariffs for most US trade partners to 10% to allow trade negotiations with those countries.
However, the rising bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would deliver more interest rate reductions this year could drag the USD lower. Traders are now pricing in only a 40% possibility of a Fed rate cut in next month’s meeting, despite the recent market volatility, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
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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