EUR/USD PRICE, NEWS AND ANALYSIS:

• Germany and France may push for a new lockdown.
• ECB policy decisions will be shaped by the renewed coronavirus outbreak
• IG trader sentiment hints at lower prices.

France is considering a new one-month national lockdown if reports are to be believed, while Germany is mulling additional measures – described as ‘lockdown light’ by one newspaper - to prevent the surge of new coronavirus cases across Europe. New cases in both countries, and across Europe, are spiking higher and there are fears that the spread of the virus is becoming impossible to control. A French government spokesman warned that the health system is coming under pressure and that intensive care units could soon hit a ‘level of extreme saturation’ by mid-November.

European equity markets have taken the hit from the increased coronavirus fears over the last few days and now the Euro is starting to wilt against a range of currencies. This new spike in coronavirus cases comes as the latest ECB monetary policy decisions and press conference hove into view tomorrow. The central bank is already under pressure to give the market a further dovish hint at the meeting to help steady the economy, and the latest virus news may force their hand further. While no balance sheet action is expected tomorrow, a clear indication of a further expansion of the PSPP securities lending program in December is becoming more likely.

EUR/USD is back below 1.1800 and is nearing short-term support. The trendline off the late-September double low has held on three occasions and is currently being tested around the 1.1745 level. The pair have also broken below both the 20- and 50-day simple moving averages but have yet to confirm this move. A confirmed break of these moving averages and trend leaves the 1.1680-90 level vulnerable ahead of the late-September double low at 1.1610.