EUR/USD remains bid, US Dollar dives on Fed independence fears

Euro Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the US Dollar.

	USD	EUR	GBP	JPY	CAD	AUD	NZD	CHF
USD		-0.40%	-0.46%	-0.02%	-0.27%	-0.31%	-0.49%	-0.41%
EUR	0.40%		-0.05%	0.39%	0.13%	0.10%	-0.08%	-0.01%
GBP	0.46%	0.05%		0.45%	0.19%	0.16%	-0.03%	0.04%
JPY	0.02%	-0.39%	-0.45%		-0.26%	-0.29%	-0.48%	-0.40%
CAD	0.27%	-0.13%	-0.19%	0.26%		-0.03%	-0.22%	-0.14%
AUD	0.31%	-0.10%	-0.16%	0.29%	0.03%		-0.19%	-0.12%
NZD	0.49%	0.08%	0.03%	0.48%	0.22%	0.19%		0.07%
CHF	0.41%	0.00%	-0.04%	0.40%	0.14%	0.12%	-0.07%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).

Daily Digest Market Movers: US Dollar remains vulnerable with Fed's independence into question

The criminal probe against Fed Chairman Powell marks a new stage in the unprecedented political pressures on the central bank and a message to the next Fed chair. This undermines the central bank's independence to set its monetary policy and erodes the US Dollar's status as a reserve currency.
Meanwhile, tensions in Iran continue growing. News reported that the Islamic regime's response to the protests in the country has caused hundreds of deaths, and Tehran has threatened to target US military bases if they detect signs of an impending attack.
On the macroeconomic front, the Eurozone's Sentix Economic Confidence Index has improved to a reading of -1.8 in January from -6.2 in December. This is the best performance in the last six months and marks a significant improvement in investors' sentiment about the region's economy. The impact on the Euro (EUR), however, has been marginal.
US data released on Friday revealed that the US labour market remains stalled but not deteriorating further. The jobless rate declined beyond expectations, adding to the case that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged at its next monetary policy meeting, due on January 27 and 28.
Beyond that, January's preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 54.0, from 52.9 in December, beyond the 53.5 reading expected by the market. These figures show the second consecutive improvement, which points to a stronger economic outlook and supports the idea of a steady monetary policy at January's Fed meeting.

Technical Analysis: EUR/USD recovery is likely to be tested at the 1.1700 area

EUR/USD has bounced up strongly from one-month lows at the 1.1620 area. The pair remains trading within a descending channel from late-December highs, but technical indicators on the 4-hour chart have turned higher.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line has crossed above the signal line, hinting at a fading bearish pressure, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has breached the key 50 level, signaling some momentum improvement.

On the upside, the pair is likely to find significant resistance at the confluence of the channel's top with the January 7 high, near 1.1700. Above here, the target is the January 6 high, at 1.1742. To the downside, the pair has a significant support above 1.1615 (December 8 and 9 lows) ahead of the December 2 low, near 1.1590.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

Euro FAQs

What is the Euro?

The Euro is the currency for the 20 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).

What is the ECB and how does it impact the Euro?

The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.

How does inflation data impact the value of the Euro?

Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.

How does economic data influence the value of the Euro?

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Euro?

Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.