Fundamental Forecast for Euro: Bearish

- Euro hits fresh yearly highs on bullish Euro Zone economic data
- European Central Bank on alert as key indicators continue to show recovery
- Dow Jones and Euro keep above key psychological levels – can they hold?

The Euro continued its dominance against the US Dollar for the third consecutive week of trading, closing above the psychologically significant $1.50 mark for the first time in 14 months. Unlike previous weeks, however, the single currency persevered against the safe-haven US Dollar despite relatively lackluster performance in the S&P 500 and other key risk sentiment barometers. Last week we argued that the high-flying EURUSD would increasingly need support from risky assets to continue its impressive rallies. Yet the S&P 500 finished the week 0.75 percent lower and yet the Euro traded higher.

A surprisingly bullish streak for key European economic data seemingly made the difference, and fundamental forecasts for domestic growth remain quite bullish. Whether this is enough to propel the Euro to fresh highs is perhaps another matter, however, and a relatively important string of economic releases could force substantive shifts in Euro forecasts.

Impressive German IFO Business Confidence figures and Euro Zone Purchasing Manager Index numbers set the stage for respectable recovery across broad swaths of the regional economy. Indeed, sanguine growth forecasts have led traders to price in relatively substantial interest rate hikes from the European Central Bank. The lure of higher yields has undoubtedly played a part in Euro/US Dollar rallies, but the extent of Euro appreciation leaves it at clear risk of pullback. ECB watchers will keep a close eye on the coming week’s German and Euro Zone Consumer Price Index figures for important surprises. Current consensus forecasts call for yet another negative year-over-year change in Euro Zone Consumer Prices, but the rate of contraction is expected to narrow to a meager 0.1 percent. Suffice it to say, any material disappointments could make a considerable dent on ECB interest rate expectations. Wednesday’s German CPI figures could subsequently set the tone for near-term Euro/US dollar trading.

Traders will otherwise keep a close watch on global risky asset classes—especially as the Euro’s correlation to the S&P 500 trades near record highs. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average’s close below the psychologically significant 10,000 mark suggests that financial market risk appetite is not quite as robust as previously believed. Yet we would hardly call for a market top without a more substantive pullback across a broad swath of indicators. FX Options market volatility expectations have come down since last week’s peak, but it should be yet another week of eventful price action out of the Euro and US Dollar in the face of noteworthy event risk.

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