EUR/USD advancing ahead of four critical events

• EUR/USD has been gradually advancing  as a busy day begins.
• German inflation, US ADP jobs, third-quarter GDP, and the Fed decision are all eyed.
• Wednesday’s four-hour chart is finely-balanced for EUR/USD.

Super Wednesday is here, and EUR/USD is already on the move – hitting a new weekly high above 1.1120. Is it justified? The world’s most popular currency pair – like central banks – is data-dependent.

The four critical events to watch are:

1) German inflation figures

Germany’s 16 states publish preliminary Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for October throughout the European morning. And a slowdown is on the cards. The continent’s largest economy’s manufacturing downturn has likely pushed inflation lower. The all-German numbers are scheduled for 13:00 GMT.

The figures feed into the euro-zone flash CPI estimate due on Thursday and tend to change expectations. Moreover, the statistics will  likely top Christine Lagarde’s intray as she becomes President of the  European Central Bank  on Friday.

The ECB has “one needle in its compass” – inflation at or close to 2%. However, the annual inflation is at around half the desired pace. Any deviation is set to rock  the euro.

2) US ADP jobs

ADP, America’s largest payroll provider, publishes its private-sector jobs report at 12:15 GMT – setting expectations for Friday’s official Non-Farm Payrolls publication.

Economists expect an increase of only 120,000 jobs in October, down from 135,000, and below the numbers, markets were used to – close to 200,000.

See  US  ADP Employment Preview: This trend is not your friend

3) Third-quarter US GDP

Traders will have only 15 minutes to digest ADP’s numbers before the US publishes its first estimate of Gross Domestic Product for the third quarter. Also here, a slowdown is on the cards – 1.7% annualized growth against 2% in the second quarter.

The initial GDP figures tend to trigger high volatility, and surprises are common. Apart from the headline, traders will want to see if the consumer continues carrying the economy on its shoulders, or if investment and manufacturing have recovered.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence gauge for October showed a drop in  sentiment, albeit from high levels.

See  US Third Quarter GDP Preview: How slow is slow?

4) Fed decision

The Federal Reserve is set to cut interest rates for the third time in a row but may hint a pause. Economic figures have been mixed, with the deceleration in job growth but a pickup in inflation – naming only a few of the contradictory signs. Officials at the central banks have seemed reluctant to act again.

Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, may struggle to convey a clear message at the press conference. He may also opt to open the door to more rate reductions or shock markets by leaving rates unchanged.

See

• FOMC Preview: Three and done
• Fed Cheat Sheet: Three scenarios for EUR/USD price action as uncertainty is higher than usual

Uncertainty is also the realm of US-Sino trade talks. The media has been publishing conflicting messages about the chances of signing a partial deal. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet at the APEC Summit in Chile on November 17.

The EU has formalized the Brexit extension, setting the exit date to January 31, 2020. The UK parliament approved elections on December 12, meaning that EUR/USD may shrug off British news for several weeks.

EUR/USD Technical Analysis

EUR/USD has been advancing but seems capped at the 50 Simple Moving Average on the four-hour chart, which hits the price around 1.1120 at the time of writing. It has recaptured the broken uptrend support line and trades above the 100 and 200 SMAs. Momentum is flat, and the Relative Strength Index is going nowhere fast.

All in all, the picture is balanced.

Above 1.1120, the next cap is at 1.1140, which was a swing high in mid-October. 1.1180, the monthly high follows it. Next up, we find 1.1225 and 1.1250.

Support awaits at 1.1105, which held EUR/USD down early in the week. Strong support awaits at 1.1075, which is a double-bottom. The round number of 1.10 is held the currency pair down four times in early October and is another cushion. 1.0940, 1.0905, and 1.0879 are next.