Image Source: Pixabay

EUR/USD advances during the North American session after the European Central Bank decided to hold rates unchanged, while the Greenback weakened after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report was aligned with estimates. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.1733 up by 0.34%.

Euro gains 0.34% after ECB holds rates steady, weak US labor data boosts Fed cut bets

The latest inflation print in the US revealed that prices on the consumer front increased but were aligned with estimates, maintained the status quo. Initial Jobless Claims data showed that the number of Americans filling for unemployment benefits exceeded forecasts, hitting its highest level in nearly four years.

On the Euro front, the ECB maintained the Deposit Rate at 2% and noted that monetary policy decisions adjustments would be made in a meeting-by-meeting and data-dependent approach. The Governing Council revealed that they are not on a pre-committed path on rates.

Daily market movers: EUR/USD rises after US CPI figures

• US Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated to 2.9% YoY in August from 2.7%, in line with expectations. Core CPI held steady at 3.1% YoY, matching projections and unchanged from July’s level. Market reaction was subdued, with Fed rate-cut bets largely unaffected.
• Separately, Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending September 6 jumped to 267K, well above consensus of 235K and higher than the prior 237K, underscoring renewed weakness in the labor market.
• ECB’s President Christine Lagarde said that the disinflationary process is over, added that policy is in a good place and that today’s decision was unanimous. Furthermore, she commented that trade uncertainty has diminished and that risks to economic growth are tilted to the downside.
• The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback against a basket of six peers, is down 0.28% at 97.53.
• Fitch Ratings Agency expects two 25 basis rate cuts, each in September and December, with three more reductions penciled in 2026. Conversely, the ratings agency does not project any rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB) again.
• After the data, traders had priced in a 90% chance of the Fed easing policy by 25 basis points (bps) and a 10% chance for a 50-bps cut, according to Prime Market Terminal interest rate probability tool. The ECB is likely to keep rates unchanged, with a 93% probability, and only a 7% chance of a 25-bps cut.

Technical outlook: EUR/USD clears 1.1700 as bulls eye 1.1800

EUR/USD resumed its uptrend on Thursday as it forms a ‘bullish engulfing’ chart pattern, a two-candlestick formation that suggests that further upside is seen. Also, momentum has improved as depicted by the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which, despite retreating, it aims higher above Wednesday’s 52 at 56.

If EUR/USD clears 1.1750, the next key resistance levels would be 1.1800 and the year-to-date high at 1.1829. Otherwise, if the pair slumps below 1.1700, the first support would be the 20-day SMA at 1.1677 and the 50-day SMA at 1.1658.

(Click on image to enlarge)

More By This Author:

Gold Slips As Traders Book Profits Despite Increasing Fed Dovish Bets
Gold Hits $3,674 Record Before U.S. Dollar Rebound Caps Rally
EUR/USD Tops 1.1750 As Soft U.S. Jobs Cement Fed Cut Bets