EUR/USD Price Analysis – Dec 18, 2024
Daily Price Outlook
During the European trading session, the EUR/USD currency pair gained modest positive traction despite the bullish US dollar. It is currently trading at the 1.0494 level, hitting an intraday low of 1.0513.
However, the reason for this slight upward trend could be attributed to investor caution ahead of the Federal Reserve's key policy meeting, which is scheduled to conclude later today at 19:00 GMT.
Traders are waiting to see the outcome of the meeting, particularly the revised Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), or the "dot plot," which will reveal the Fed's latest economic outlook and its view on future interest rate hikes.
On the other hand, the Euro’s outlook remains bearish, with market participants expecting the European Central Bank (ECB) to raise rates to around 2% by mid-2025, which continues to weigh on the single currency. This cautious environment is keeping EUR/USD in a tight range.
US Dollar Steady as Investors Await Fed's Policy Decision and Future Guidance
On the US front, the broad-based US dollar is holding steady as investors wait for the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) final policy meeting of the year, set to conclude at 19:00 GMT. The Fed is expected to release an updated version of the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), also known as the dot plot.
Analysts at Bank of America (BofA) anticipate the Fed will reduce interest rates by 25 basis points (bps), bringing them down to the 4.25%-4.5% range. Market participants are fully expecting this 25 bps rate cut, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Looking ahead, traders are closely watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference for more details on future interest rate guidance. Analysts expect Powell to adopt a gradual approach to rate cuts and potentially signal a pause in January if economic data aligns with expectations.
EUR/USD Remains Sideways as ECB Faces Economic Risks and Inflation Concerns
On the EUR front, the shared currency outlook remains bearish, with investors expecting the European Central Bank (ECB) to move toward a neutral interest rate of around 2% by the first half of 2025.
Many traders believe the ECB will continue to lower interest rates at every meeting until June 2025, as officials are concerned about the growing economic risks in the Eurozone.
The ECB is also confident that inflation will return to its target of 2% next year, which could help stabilize the economy.
On Tuesday, ECB policymaker Olli Rehn, who is also the Governor of Finland's central bank, mentioned that inflation is stabilizing near the ECB’s target of 2%.
This sets the stage for further interest rate cuts. This uncertainty keeps traders on edge as they watch for further signals from the ECB in the coming months.
Therefore, the bearish outlook for the Euro, driven by expectations of continued ECB rate cuts, could weigh on the EUR/USD pair, potentially pushing it lower as investors anticipate a weaker Euro.
EUR/USD – Technical Analysis
The EUR/USD pair is trading at $1.05019, up 0.11%, as modest bullish momentum develops within a largely neutral setup.
The key pivot point at $1.05480 acts as a critical level for price direction. Immediate resistance lies at $1.05914, with higher levels at $1.06294 offering potential targets if upward pressure strengthens.
On the downside, the pair finds support at $1.04856, with deeper levels at $1.04525 and $1.04204 acting as safety nets for buyers. The RSI at 48 indicates neutral momentum, suggesting the pair is in a consolidation phase with room for directional moves depending on the breakout.
The 50 EMA at $1.05205 is slightly above the current price, reinforcing a cautious upward bias. A break above the pivot point could signal bullish continuation toward $1.05914, while a failure to sustain above the $1.04856 support level may shift sentiment bearish.
Traders are positioning for a Buy Limit at $1.04860, targeting the pivot point at $1.05481, with a stop loss at $1.04522 to manage downside risk.
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