Home EUR/USD Dec. 30 – Euro Starts Week Above 1.37
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EUR/USD Dec. 30 – Euro Starts Week Above 1.37

EUR/USD  is trading quietly on Monday, as the pair starts the new trading week in the mid-1.37 range. In economic news, Eurozone Retail PMI came in at 47.7 points, indicating continuing contraction in the retail sector. We’ll get a look at the yield on Italian 10-year bonds later today. In the US, today’s sole event is  Pending Home Sales. The markets are  expecting a solid gain after a string of declines.

Here is a quick update on the technical situation, indicators, and market sentiment that moves euro/dollar.

EUR/USD Technical

  • EUR/USD  lost ground in  the Asian session, dropping to a low of 1.3727. The pair consolidated at 1.3758.  In the European session the pair has edged lower.
  • Current range: 1.3710 to 1.3800.

Further levels in both directions:   EUR USD Daily Forecast Dec. 30th

  • Below: 1.3710, 1.3675, 1.3615, 1.3525, 1.3440, 1.34, 1.3320, 1.3240, 1.3175 and  1.31.
  • Above: 1.3800, 1.3832, 1.3940 and 1.4036.
  • 1.3800 is the next line of resistance. 1.3832 follows.
  • On the downside, 1.3710 is providing support. 1.3675 is stronger.

 

EUR/USD Fundamentals

  • 9:10 Eurozone Retail PMI. Actual 47.7 points.
  • Tentative –    Italian 10-year Bond Auction.
  • 15:00 US Pending Home Sales. Exp. 1.1%.

For more events and lines, see the Euro to dollar forecast.

EUR/USD Sentiment

  • Euro shows volatility:  Low liquidity  over a holiday period can lead to strong currency movements, and we got a taste of that on Friday.  The euro shot up about 200 points as it hit a high of 1.3896. However, it then retracted and closed in the mid-1.37 range. With thin trade likely this week as well due to the holidays, we could see  further volatility from EUR/USD.
  • Unemployment Claims Shine: US Unemployment Claims bounced back nicely on Thursday, following two disappointing releases. The key employment indicator fell to 338 thousand, compared to 379 thousand in the previous release. The estimate stood at 346 thousand. With the Federal Reserve poised to begin its long-awaited QE taper next month, employment  releases have taken on added significance. If the US labor market continues to improve, the Fed could decide on another taper as early as January, which would give  a boost to the US dollar against its major rivals.
  • US manufacturing, housing numbers point up: There was some holiday cheer from US releases  last week  as manufacturing and housing  data pointed upwards. Core Durable Goods Orders posted a strong gain of 1.2%, its best showing since April. The key manufacturing indicator had posted four consecutive declines, so the sharp gain was welcome news. Durable Goods Orders bounced back from a sharp decline in October with a gain of 3.5%, well above the estimate of 1.7%. New Homes Sales also impressed with a five-month high, climbing to 464 thousand. The estimate stood at 449 thousand. We’ll get another look at housing data on Monday with the release  Pending Home Sales, and the markets are expecting a strong reading from the  key housing indicator.
  • Ireland exits bailout program: With all the news about Eurozone bailouts for struggling countries, there was a happier episode as Ireland  recently exited the bailout program it had received from the EU and the IMF. Ireland had been party to the bailout for three years, and will now be able to borrow money on the international markets.  Key sectors such as tourism and agriculture are improving  and unemployment is down to about 12.5%. However, economic growth is expected to be limited, as the country was forced to undergo drastic budget cuts and tax increases as part of the bailout. Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said the exit from the bailout is a step in the right direction, but admits that the road to recovery will be a long one.

 

 

 

Kenny Fisher

Kenny Fisher

Kenny Fisher - Senior Writer A native of Toronto, Canada, Kenneth worked for seven years in the marketing and trading departments at Bendix, a foreign exchange company in Toronto. Kenneth is also a lawyer, and has extensive experience as an editor and writer.