The Euro (EUR) still struggles to find a clear direction, leaving EUR/USD to the mercy of Wednesday’s inconclusive price action around the low-1.0900s. This lack of direction could be attributed to investors’ caution ahead of Chief Jerome Powell’s semi-annual testimony before Congress later in the day.
Market participants anticipate a hawkish message from Powell during this critical event. At the June FOMC event, rate-setters indicated a possibility of resuming the tightening campaign in July, with projections pointing towards two more 25 bps rate hikes or a 50 bps raise.
While Powell’s testimony takes center stage on Wednesday, the markets are closely monitoring the likely following decisions on interest rates by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB) at their meetings next month.
No data releases are scheduled in the Eurozone on Wednesday, while the usual weekly MBA Mortgage Applications expanded by 0.5% in the week to June 16. The API’s weekly report on US crude oil stockpiles will complete the US docket later in the session.
Daily Digest Market Movers: Euro Risks Further Losses On A Hawkish Powell
- Pre-Powell cautiousness continues to favor the US Dollar against the Euro.
- Powell’s testimony is expected to fall on the hawkish side.
- Sticky UK inflation prompts extra tightening by the BoE in H2 2023.
- China, recession concerns maintain the risk appetite subdued so far.
- The FX universe continues to monitor the European Central Bank-Federal Reserve divergence.
- ECB’s Board member Peter Kazimir argued that further tightening in September remains uncertain.