EUR/USD Price Forecast: Flatlines Below 1.1550, While Staying Bearish Under 100-Day SMA

The EUR/USD pair holds steady near 1.1520 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. US inflation cooled on a ‌year-over-year basis for a second straight month, easing pressure on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise interest rates as soon as next month. The US Producer Price Index (PPI) report for July is due later on Thursday. 

Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday revealed that the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% YoY in July, compared to 3.5% in the previous reading. Additionally, the core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 2.5% YoY in July, versus 2.6% prior. Both readings came in line with expectations.

Traders further cut the chance for a September Fed rate hike, lowering the odds to 40%, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Fed officials will get August CPI and jobs reports before their September meeting.

Nonetheless, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could boost a safe-haven currency such as the US Dollar (USD) and create a headwind for the major pair. Reuters reported that the US and Iran remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf. A senior Iranian official said that there ‌had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a time frame to implement it.

Euro holds steady as post-FOMC consolidation persists

Analysts at Scotiabank observe that the Euro is “entering Wednesday’s NA session flat vs. the USD while showing a mixed performance against the G10 currencies overall.” They note that the single currency “has spent much of August consolidating within a tight, flat range, lacking a catalyst in the period following the FOMC meeting in late July,” underscoring the absence of a clear directional driver in recent trading.

Technical Analysis: EUR/USD keeps a bearish vibe under the 100-day SMA 

In the daily chart, EUR/USD holds below the 100-day simple moving average (SMA), keeping the near-term bias bearish despite a modestly constructive tone in momentum, with the Relative Strength Index (14) hovering around 56. Price remains above the 20-day Bollinger middle band SMA, suggesting downside is cushioned for now, while the upper Bollinger band near marks a broader cap on recovery attempts.

On the topside, immediate resistance aligns at the 100-day SMA at 1.1565, ahead of the upper Bollinger band around 1.1612, where selling interest could strengthen if tested. On the downside, initial support is located at the 1.1500 psychological level, followed by the 20-day Bollinger middle band at 1.1475. A deeper bearish extension is likely to target the lower Bollinger band near 1.13375 if the current floor gives way.